McCarthy, the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, was battling with Darnold to be the starter in Minnesota summer before a torn meniscus suffered in the preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders ended his rookie year prematurely.

The good news for McCarthy is he won’t have the weight of the world on his shoulders; he’ll have head coach Kevin O’Connell — a former NFL quarterback — helping him navigate everything, as well as teammates on both sides of the ball that are going to make it easier on him.

After missing his rookie season due to a devastating injury, J.J. McCarthy says he’s ready to kick off the upcoming NFL season. As he focuses on his preparation, the talented Minnesota Vikings quarterback has sent a clear warning to the rest of the league.