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'I feel different' J.J. McCarthy is ready to take control of the Minnesota Vikings and it's incredibly obvious why

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Tyler Forness | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 8:50 PM ET

The first training camp practice of the 2025 Minnesota Vikings took place on Wednesday afternon, and we got to hear from QB1 J.J. McCarthy. He was asked a multitude of questions ahead of his first practice, and it speaks volumes about who he is.

"I feel different," said McCarthy when asked about how he feels compared to last year. "It's a different situation being year two, knowing the offense a lot better than I did when I first came in here, and knowing the guys and how they move and how they react to certain coaching points. Just little things that go along with day to day, practice and meetings. Yeah, it's definitely a different feeling, and a really good one"

J.J. McCarthy is ready to be QB1

You can tell how things are different at quarterback for the Vikings just by speaking with McCarthy. Despite being just 22 years old, it doesn't feel like you are listening to someone who is that young.

The maturity level that we see is something you would expect from a Josh Allen or a Lamar Jackson: someone who has been in the league for years. It's just a different feeling with the Vikings right now, and it's a special one.

There are so many examples of why McCarthy is ready to be the leader for the Vikings, and one of those is the fact that he organized multiple throwing sessions at nearby Woodbury High School, something that was confirmed by wide receiver Jordan Addison.

"Yeah, I kind of spearheaded it here, and when I was out in Tennessee, I kind of mentioned it to TJ. We got JO (Josh Oliver) out there, and Ty Chandler was out there, and Jordan Mason, so it was a good little group, but we had a lot of fun this summer.

"It was important, because the more reps, the better. You know, a lot of this offense is based on timing and rhythm, and being able to get as many reps as possible is going to pay the most importance going into this camp, in this season. So, yeah, just the rhythm and timing of everything.

It's obvious that McCarthy is ready to be the guy, and all of our eyes will be on him to see if can really be the guy moving forward.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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