Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy excited for first game. Even if it’s only preseason.

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At long last, rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will suit up for the Vikings on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. Though the game itself won’t count toward anything, it will signal the start of a new chapter for McCarthy, as well as a turning of the page for the Vikings after selecting him with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“No matter what, playing in U.S. Bank Stadium, there’s always going to be sizzle,” McCarthy said. “Just hearing about it and feeling the energy of this fan base, I know that it’s going to be a live environment.”

It’s still unclear if veteran quarterback Sam Darnold will play at any point in the preseason. In the past, coach Kevin O’Connell has opted against playing his starters, and if he decides to stick with the trend, McCarthy could see a lot of playing time over the next few weeks.

What is he most looking forward to seeing?

“Just a vanilla defense,” McCarthy said with a laugh. “Honestly.”

That was a reference to some of the exotic looks defensive coordinator Brian Flores has been presenting throughout training camp at TCO Performance Center. As frustrating as it’s been for McCarthy to navigate at times, he understands that it’s an important part of his development.

“It’s just going to make things in the season a whole lot easier,” McCarthy said. “I’m thankful for that defense every single day.”

Truthfully, McCarthy has been very impressive to this point, displaying immense growth from the spring to the summer. He looks more much comfortable throwing the ball in training camp, for example, compared to when he was reworking his fundamentals in organized team activities. He’s also showcased a knowledge of the playbook that comes as a result of hours upon hours of studying on his own.

The next step for McCarthy is translating that onto the field during a game.

“Just making sure all the little intricacies that go into each and every rep show up,” McCarthy said when asked what he’s focused on heading into the game. “Just being able to lock in to the level of my training that I’ve been doing on a consistent basis since I got here and to be able to do it when the time matters.”

As much as he wants to perform at a high level when he steps onto the field, McCarthy also vowed to soak in the moment as best he could. He referenced a phrase he his former head coach Jim Harbaugh used to utter during their time together at Michigan: “The days are long. The years are short.”

That’s something McCarthy can relate to now that he’s made it.

“Just being here for four months, it’s felt like four days,” McCarthy said. “I’m having an absolute blast.”

That will continue this weekend.

“I can’t wait to go out there with the boys and put on display what we’ve been doing since April,” McCarthy said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

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