Outside of the competition itself, J.J. McCarthy’s move from franchise quarterback hopeful to training camp contestant is the Minnesota Vikings’ biggest summer storyline. All offseason, Kevin O’Connell has heard the premise that McCarthy might not get a fair shot. Kevin O’Connell puts J.J. McCarthy’s development behind Minnesota Vikings winsMcCarthy lost his 2024 rookie season to a torn meniscus, then had 2025 interrupted by more injuries. McCarthy’s lost development time framed O’Connell’s defense on Thursday's episode of "Good Morning Football" on NFL Network. McCarthy’s career line through 10 starts includes career highs of 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, a 57.6 completion percentage and a 72.6 passer rating.