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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy Gets Honest About Chemistry With Justin Jefferson

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nishant Gupta | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 6:32 PM ET

J.J. McCarthy is gearing up for his first snap in the NFL with superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson as his primary weapon. After missing his entire rookie season with a knee injury, the 22-year-old is poised to combine with the four-time Pro Bowler to take the team to glory.

McCarthy is Jefferson's third quarterback in six years after the Minnesota Vikings let Sam Darnold walk out the door in free agency despite a 14-3 season. The Vikings' WR has exceeded expectations and shattered records every season. He has been sweating it out in the practice sessions to do it all over again with a new QB.

The duo hit a roadblock when Jefferson picked up a minor hamstring injury days into the training camp. While the wide receiver's participation in the Week 1 clash against the Chicago Bears is not in question, the coaching staff is proceeding with caution. McCarthy opened up about his chemistry with the face of the franchise ahead of the second padded session.

"I feel like we were in a really great spot," he said. "Spent a lot of time in the offseason just getting on the same page. He's a different receiver. He moves in different ways, and just being able to really get reps and reps and reps with him is huge."

McCarthy is confident that he will pick up where he left off once Jefferson returns. The Vikings QB-WR pair is still working on their communication and strategies despite the 26-year-old's injury.

"He's one of the leaders on our team. Does a tremendous job of just always being interactive and in it. A lot of those guys can sometimes hide away in the training room and do their own thing, but you really feel his presence out there. Just being able to pick his brain next to him in the locker room and out on the field. It's really awesome," McCarthy said.

Jefferson is likely to miss the Vikings' preseason games for the fourth straight season. The injury has prevented him from participating in extra reps with the Vikings' quarterback. But McCarthy can use this time to sync better with other players on the team. The Vikings begin their campaign on September 8.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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