Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy is poised to take over as the Minnesota Vikings’ starter in 2025. The team showed its confidence in him by trading up from No. 11 to No. 10 in the 2024 NFL Draft to select the former Michigan standout and national champion.
McCarthy’s rookie season was derailed by a torn meniscus suffered in the Vikings’ preseason opener, forcing him to miss the entire year. However, the organization remains committed to him, and he recently shared encouraging updates on his recovery.
“Recovery is not a linear timeline. There will be peaks and valleys,” the Vikings posted on X on March 24, alongside a video of McCarthy discussing his rehab. They highlighted his strong mindset as he worked through the recovery process.
Reflecting on his brief NFL debut, McCarthy described the experience as “magical” despite facing early adversity.
“The way the game played out, I was really happy because I started off rough with the interception, but I was able to bounce back,” he said in the Vikings’ video, produced in partnership with SleepNumber. “I’m gonna be resilient, no matter what happens. There’s going to be more challenges ahead.”
McCarthy also opened up about the emotional toll of his injury.
“Being all revved up and ready for the season, only to have it taken away, forced me to channel my energy differently—mentally, spiritually,” he shared. “Now, I realize I really needed that. I needed to ground myself and build a stronger foundation before my career truly takes off.”
The Vikings’ post serves as a reminder of what lies ahead, but McCarthy remains locked in.
“There’s a positive and negative to everything,” McCarthy said. “See the positive, focus on the positive, and live out the positive.”
He acknowledged the challenges of rehab but is embracing the process.
“They told me from the start, this isn’t a straight path upward. There will be peaks and valleys. So I’m just going with the flow, listening as best as I can. Good things come to those who wait.”
Vikings fans are also waiting, and McCarthy is eager to reward their patience.
“What Minnesota Vikings fans can expect from me is someone they haven’t seen before,” McCarthy said. “The guy in Preseason 1? That’s not me anymore. I’m going to give it my all—every single snap. Not just every game, but every snap, every practice, every meeting.”
J.J. McCarthy Raises Eyebrows With Weight Gain
McCarthy has fully recovered from two procedures to treat his injury and the swelling that followed. However, his weight loss during rehab also became a topic of discussion.
Now, just a couple of months later, his weight is once again drawing attention.
Kay Adams recently teased an interview with the second-year quarterback, sharing an image where McCarthy appears noticeably bulkier than he did at the end of the 2024 season.
“#Vikings QB JJ McCarthy with a noticeable size difference since the end of last season [eyes emoji],” one fan posted on X after the team’s video. “It was reported that JJ is currently sitting at around 210 pounds.”
While McCarthy’s weight loss wasn’t a major concern—since it’s common for athletes recovering from injury—his apparent physical transformation confirms that he’s back on track. This aligns with recent reports about his progress, offering further reassurance to Vikings fans.
Adam Schefter: Vikings are ‘J.J. McCarthy’s Team’
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero also reported that McCarthy had been regaining weight in the week leading up to the latest updates.
He reinforced colleague Ian Rapoport’s claim that the Vikings are fully committed to McCarthy as their franchise quarterback.
“I am told the Vikings have rejected multiple trade calls involving their young quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, telling teams they are moving forward with McCarthy as their quarterback,” Pelissero reported on The Insiders on March 19. “J.J. McCarthy now enters the offseason as QB1.”
The Vikings have decided against pursuing Aaron Rodgers and have also left veteran quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Ryan Tannehill on the free-agent market.
“The Vikings have full confidence in J.J. McCarthy as their quarterback. This isn’t just about 2025—it’s about 2026, 2027, and beyond, ensuring they develop him into the franchise quarterback they believe he can be,” Tom Pelissero said.
Pelissero also provided an update on McCarthy’s health, emphasizing that his knee is no longer a concern after last year’s surgery for a torn meniscus.
“I am told his knee is not an issue. He has put weight back on, now weighing over 200 pounds. He’s been working out at the facility regularly and looks really good,” Pelissero added.
As of March 24, Brett Rypien is the only other quarterback on the Vikings’ roster. While they are still exploring veteran options, it’s solely for a backup role.
With the team fully committed to him, McCarthy’s outlook as the Vikings’ future franchise quarterback continues to gain momentum.