Vikings Teammates Now Going To Bat for JJ McCarthy

J.J. McCarthy’s first season starting for the Minnesota Vikings was tumultuous, to say the least. Week 18 was a perfect snapshot, too. Not only did he have to force-feed Justin Jefferson just to get him 1,000 yards receiving, but McCarthy bowed out halfway through for the second-straight start.

After suffering a season-ending knee injury as a rookie, his first full year of action was again marred by health issues and inconsistent play. And that was before questions surrounding his effectiveness, and even his personality, began to surface late in the season.

MN Vikings teammates change tune on McCarthy

However, in their final interviews with media, after the dust had settled on the 2025 season, McCarthy’s teammates stepped up and came to his defense.

It’s not as though Vikings players have been openly critical of McCarthy this season (aside from legendary wide receiver Cris Carter), they haven’t been out protecting him that much lately, either.

That changed this week when ESPN’s Kevin Seifert spoke with a couple of his teammates, who both shared a lot of love they have for the redshirt rookie, despite his struggles in year one as a starter.

“I absolutely love playing with J.J. What a tremendous leader he is for how young he is. He’s got a lot of moxie and swagger to him. Like anyone, he is going to continue to get better. But man, he is so much fun to play with. Every time he goes out and gets that look in his eye in the huddle, you know at any moment he is going to catch fire and do something big. I’m excited for his growth, his development and his future. He’s so much fun to play with. I’ll go into battle with him and protect him.”

Will Fries – ESPN

“I love that kid. I’m excited to see his development and growth go forward.”

Brian O’Neill – ESPN

It’s encouraging that the players tasked with protecting McCarthy don’t want to see him taking unnecessary punishment. In his first year as a starter, the former first-round pick went 6-4, completing 57.6% of his passes. He posted an 11-to-12 TD/INT ration and was often more ineffective than productive.

Mechanical issues remain apparent, and the Vikings appear determined to make changes to their process heading into next season. Still, if McCarthy is going to emerge as the long-term answer at quarterback, support from his teammates will be crucial.

Seifert noted that, “during the doldrums of training camp, sources said, there were moments when some veteran players grew weary of his high-energy approach.” If that was truly the case, it’s encouraging to see teammates come full circle on a quarterback who is just about to turn 23 years old.

Ultimately, the Vikings sought a quarterback reset, hoping to capitalize on a rookie-contract window. So far, that opportunity hasn’t materialized, but that doesn’t mean it won’t in the future.