NFL Insider Reveals J.J. McCarthy's Interesting Offseason Training Details

"The Vikings weren’t babying J.J. McCarthy this spring. He may have been coming off of a torn meniscus, and he may only be in his second season, but Minnesota’s staff made the tests difficult," he wrote. 

Lewis further added that the Vikings' QB was handed lengthy call sheets before practice and was responsible for calls at the line of scrimmage. Although there were no such consequences for mistakes, each rep was played with utmost seriousness. 

"McCarthy didn’t float perfectly through the weeks, but a steady stream of growth imprinted on the staffers monitoring him every day. He threw the ball with accuracy. His arm strength stood out," Lewis wrote. 

The analyst noted that McCarthy's ability to layer different throws is his physical priority, but the mental challenges have taken the driver's seat. The coaching staff hopes to supercharge some growth in the Michigan Wolverines' star by making it as challenging as it has been over the past few months. 

J.J. McCarthy enters his rookie season with plenty of talent around him. He’ll have superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson as his go-to target, while the backfield will feature the duo of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. Up front, veterans Ryan Kelly and Will Fries, along with first-round pick Donovan Jackson, are expected to anchor the offensive line.

The Vikings are coming off a dominant 14-win regular season, only to suffer a disappointing early exit at the hands of the Rams in the Wild Card Round. Minnesota is counting on McCarthy to deliver and help the team make a deeper playoff push in 2025.