MN Vikings QB JJ McCarthy Reminds TJ Hockenson of Who…?

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JJ McCarthy - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings will begin rookie mini camp this weekend from May 9 to May 12. According to Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) redshirt rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy is expected to be in attendance and participating with his new teammates, even though his draft year was 2024.

What can 2025 Vikings rookies expect from McCarthy during their three to four days together? Well, we saw last week that JJ is back up above his former playing weight, at about 215 pounds. We’ve also been told that the University of Michigan alum is 100% recovered from his season-ending meniscus surgery in 2024.

Minnesota Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson loves what he is seeing from JJ McCarthy

And if you believe what MN Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson told Chris Long on the Green Light Podcast, the ball is springing out of JJ McCarthy’s hands right now, in a way that reminds him of former teammate, and two-time Pro Bowler, Matthew Stafford. Currently QB1 of the Los Angeles Rams, Stafford and Hockenson both started their NFL careers together with the Detroit Lions.

“[JJ McCarthy]’s got a sick arm. I told him this the other day. I remember catching passes from [Matt Stafford], it was one of those balls that it just zips on you, you know? It looks like it’s not coming, but it’s coming. JJ’s got the juice behind it, where it kind of has that effect. It doesn’t look like it’s coming because of that tight spiral, but it’s coming.It’s humming in the air. He’s got an insane talent, arm talent. And really, the personality that he has goes really well and I think that he’s going to have a long career.”

TJ Hockenson – Green Light Podcast with Chris Long

Depending on where you look, there are a handful of different NFL quarterbacks who are seen as having one of the strongest arms in the NFL, and Matthew Stafford has been on that shortlist since the moment he entered the league.

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If that’s the QB who comes to mind when McCarthy is throwing TJ Hockenson passes, that’s an extremely good sign for Minnesota Vikings fans. Not only has Stafford been in the NFL for 16 years, but he is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks of this era, tossing for nearly 60,000 yards and 377 touchdowns.

We can only hope that McCarthy winds up being the type of NFL QB Stafford already is. But without a doubt, McCarthy’s teammates and coaches with the Minnesota Vikings clearly believe he is something special. Now, we just need to see him prove it on the field.

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