What is J.J. McCarthy ready for?

Ben Solak of ESPN included the question in his article Wednesday previewing 20 storylines for 2025 NFL training camps. He examined five questions, five position battles, five injuries and five rookies to watch.

The attention on McCarthy isn't new, of course. Every bit of his fit as Minnesota's quarterback has been analyzed since 2024 Pro Bowl passer Sam Darnold signed with Seattle and the Vikings doubled down on their belief in McCarthy, last year's No. 10 draft pick, by retooling around him via free agency and the draft, especially on the offensive line. Still, it's a legitimate ask: What is he going to be able to handle?

Solak noted it's the question with the biggest range of answers heading into training camp, and he debriefed two parallel universes as potential outcomes. In one, McCarthy's season of rehabbing a meniscus injury in his right knee lends itself to elite mental preparation and enables him to be "sharp as a tack" operating Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's nimbly designed system. In essence, McCarthy skips past the common phase of rookie mistakes, and "offers more on the boot than Darnold ever did, creating a new layer in the already dangerous Vikings offense," Solak wrote, because he's fully physically recovered.

That sounds like best-case stuff, but plausible.

At the other end of the spectrum, Solak describes a reality where the Vikings literally hit the ground running, because McCarthy's knee gives him pause and he isn't quite ready for the speed of the NFL.

In this alternate world, Minnesota relies as heavily on its restructured o-line, but for a different purpose – to push defenses onto their heels and create space for Aaron Jones, Sr., and newcomer Jordan Mason.

Again, there's credence to this scenario. While it's ideal to have a completely confident McCarthy and a veteran-laden offense humming, it wouldn't be shocking if some responsibility, and in turn pressure, was taken off the 22-year-old's shoulders as he syncs up everything in his head with his eyes, arm and feet.

Solak admitted he's torn on what to think, writing the following:

These two worlds, and every world in between, feel possible for the Vikings. We shouldn't overreact to anything we get in training camp, especially negative. The McCarthy we get in August won't be the McCarthy we see in December, as a season's worth of NFL action teaches some big lessons. But the Vikings are in a competitive division and harbor deep playoff aspirations. They only have so much leash to give a rookie, especially when you consider how O'Connell has made veteran quarterbacks shine in this offense. McCarthy's health and confidence are about as big of a July storyline as you get in the NFL.

Although that was the lone section in Solak's article relating to the Vikings, there's also mention of division rivals Detroit and Chicago. Solak got the ball rolling in his piece with a Lions-based question: What will the second act of Dan Campbell look like? Additionally, he worried about Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland, who was picked 10th overall this past April but isn't cleared yet from an AC joint injury that required offseason surgery after Loveland grit-and-beared it in his final season at Michigan.

The latter is extra interesting, since Loveland was one of McCarthy's go-tos during their College Football Playoff National Championship run, and the Vikings play Week 1 at the Bears on Monday Night Football.

Solak's entire story can be read here.

NFL.com previews Vikings training camp

Around this time next week, Minnesota will be prepping to hit the grass for its second practice.

Frankly, we're not sure if the offseason dragged or flew by. Either way, we're glad it's about over!

On Thursday, NFL Media's Kevin Patra provided the lowdown on Vikings training camp, assessing key position battles, important players and subplots for Minnesota and the other NFC North organizations.

In a nutshell, Patra laid out three things to know: 1) McCarthy will be under the figurative microscope as he takes over an offense that experienced exceptional highs a year ago; 2) The secondary may be home to the club's most competitive camp battles. Beyond Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr., likely future Hall of Fame safety Harrison Smith and chesspiece Joshua Metellus, there's a mix of arrivals (Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah) and returners (Mekhi Blackmon, Theo Jackson) wanting to establish themselves; and 3) Offseason moves, hopefully, will plug leaky spots along the offensive line. Former Indianapolis teammates Will Fries and Ryan Kelly, and 2025 first-rounder Donovan Jackson, are huge additions.

Patra laid out report dates for players, roster changes and schedule notes, including the exciting fact the Vikings will be the first team in NFL annals to play in multiple international countries in the same season.

Check out Patra's article to get up to speed quickly before camp starts here.

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