J.J. McCarthy Gets Clear Warning Amid Vikings Reality Check
The clock may already be ticking on second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, just five starts into his career with the Minnesota Vikings.
McCarthy and the Vikings entered this season with high hopes. Instead, they have been forced to navigate injuries and inconsistency, including to McCarthy, who missed Weeks 3 through 8 with an ankle injury.
Back healthy, the young passer’s performance has left much to be desired. Perhaps, too much.
J.J. McCarthy Receives Reality Check Amid Vikings’ Struggles
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on after facing the Detroit Lions.
McCarthy has completed 52.9% of his passes for 842 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, leading the Vikings to a 2-3 record. Since his return, McCarthy has a 541-4-5 line on 50.5% completion.
In Week 11 against the Chicago Bears, McCarthy threw for 150 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs on 50% completion.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes “there’s no hiding” that “the accuracy is a concern.”
“Balls are sailing, and that affects the entire offense,” Fowler wrote in an article published on November 19. “McCarthy needs to hit the layups. The Vikings will be working to help him find more consistency as a thrower. From a developmental standpoint, the team still believes in his work ethic and skill set.”
Fowler noted Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell’s makeup as a sign that they still have faith in him. He also noted that Carson Wentz’s season-ending injury and John Wolford and Max Brosmer’s inexperience leave them with little alternative.
Colleague Dan Graziano pointed to visible frustration from teammates on offense, specifically Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson slammed his helmet during the Bears game in what was a rare display.
“I think that’s a big part of the concern the Vikings have — keeping everything together around McCarthy as he endures the growing pains,” Graziano wrote in response to Fowler, noting there remains faith in McCarthy internally, but that his inaccuracy is concerning.
Graziano points to an anonymous scout’s take that McCarthy is throwing “all fastballs,” which harkens back to a previous issue, while “trying to be the hero.”
The irony in that is that the Vikings believed they had a roster to alleviate that sort of pressure.
“The general sense I get from inside the Vikings’ building and out is that he just needs time and reps. The problem is, … the plan was to compete this year while McCarthy ramped up, and his sluggish development is keeping them from doing so.”
Vikings Facing Reckoning With Roster
GettyMinnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on against the Detroit Lions.
Both insiders reviewed the Vikings’ plans at quarterback leading into the season, when they had Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, only for both to sign elsewhere. They could have had Aaron Rodgers, too.
However, the Vikings chose to maximize their flexibility around McCarthy, opting against bringing in serious veteran competition for him during the offseason program and training camp.
Fowler wrote that “Most NFL storylines pale in comparison” to the Vikings’ path.
“The Vikings lead the league with a $344.9 million payroll. But all of this is contingent on the young quarterback showing progress. Right now, Minnesota has the next seven games to cash in on that investment — or possibly pivot to a new plan.
Graziano agrees that the Vikings’ plan is the question, but that the upcoming schedule should ease up for the embattled McCarthy to “show improvement” during a playoff push.
If he does not show that requisite growth, though, Graziano believes moving on is an option.
“The Vikings’ quarterback plan next spring will tell us everything we need to know about where they really are with McCarthy, who, again, still has more than one-third of a season to show the team that it was right to put its faith in him,” Graziano wrote.
J.J. McCarthy’s QB Coach Claps Back at Vikings Legend
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings Looks on Against the Baltimore Ravens.
Underscoring the polarizing nature of the situation, Vikings legend Cris Carter sharply criticized McCarthy’s performance through three quarters against the Bears. He pointed that out to former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho, who was trying to frame the game in the inverse.
McCarthy’s personal quarterback coach, Greg Beachum, called Carter a “F’kn clown [clown emoji]” in a since-deleted post on X on November 18.
The Vikings need McCarthy to turn it around, and so does he.
“So Proud To Be Yours”: Cooper Kupp And Anna Celebrate Seahawks WR Return To LA With Sweet Sideline Kiss
Cooper Kupp returned to Los Angeles for Sunday’s game for the first time after he was traded by the Rams. It was definitely an emotional moment for Kupp and many fans who were sorely sad to see Kupp go to the Seahawks. Kupp and his wife also definitely felt the sentiment, with Anna recently sharing a beautiful picture of them kissing before the game with a sweet caption.
While Kupp would have been hoping to dominate his former team with his new teammates, things did not go as planned. The Rams easily won against Seattle, with LA’s signal-caller Matthew Stafford managing a pair of impressive scores.
“So proud to be yours. To be held by you, to be loved by you.” Anna Marie Kupp wrote in her Instagram post.
“My rock!!! (fingers crossed emoji)” Kupp commented on his wife’s post.
Cooper Kupp’s return makes it even more bittersweet when fans remember just how much the player was upset at parting ways with the Rams. Kupp openly stated that he definitely did not want to leave LA and even had a few words to say about them after Sunday’s matchup.
“It was a meaningful place for me. I enjoyed stepping on that field for eight years and representing the city of Los Angeles. I tried to do it to the best of my ability, and it was important to me. It was important for me for the fans and what we wanted to build there. The relationships were just too important to feel like that was broken.”
Cooper Kupp said.
After it was announced that Cooper Kupp will be shipped off to the Seahawks, many fans and critics called out the team for the painful decision. However, football fans who know LA GM Les Snead know only too well about his ruthlessness in making decisions, which have mostly helped the team.
Cooper Kupp’s Teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba Stuns In Rams Game
While Cooper Kupp’s former team managed to defeat Seattle, his teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba managed to put up a winning performance nevertheless. Despite his team losing badly to LA, the wide-out managed nine receptions for 105 yards
The player from Sierra Leone also made a record in the league as the first player with more than 75 receiving yards in the first ten games of a campaign. With his incredible performance, many fans and sources are hailing as a strong MVP candidate for this season.
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Yelle is a broadcast communications graduate from the University of Perpetual Help-Dalta and has pursued a career in television and news writing in
