The smile said everything that needed to be said.
Asked before the exhibition game against the Houston Texans if he was looking forward to playing against somebody else, quarterback J.J. McCarthy flashed a grin, then replied, “I’m very excited to play against another defense.”
There seemed to be some solace from McCarthy knowing he’d be able to walk up to the line of scrimmage and not be faced with the shapeshifting group of defenders that defensive coordinator Brian Flores deploys seemingly without rhyme or reason.
It’s something safety Josh Metellus certainly took note of while watching McCarthy perform under center over the weekend.
“It probably felt weird for him to see guys just sitting there,” Metellus said. “There’s nobody flying around before the snap and stuff like that.”
All of it is by design to make sure McCarthy is ready to lead the Vikings moving forward.
“It gets crazy out here when we’re trying to put in new stuff,” Metellus said. “He has been handling it really well while still focusing on everything he needs to do to get better.”
Here are more takeaways from Day 13 of training camp:
How is McCarthy?
It wasn’t the most intense workload on Monday afternoon at TCO Performance Center. That said, McCarthy still managed to get better, putting together a practice devoid of any notable errors.
There was a simple check down to running back Aaron Jones out of the backfield that displayed his willingness to exhaust his progression. There was a dart to tight end T.J. Hockenson in the middle of the field that showed his ability to operate in the rhythm and timing of the play call. There was a bullet to receiver Jordan Addison on the sideline that showcased his arm strength.
All of it led up to the final play of the practice, when McCarthy found receiver Jalen Nailor for a touchdown in the low red zone. That capped a very efficient performance from McCarthy and the starters on offense.
Who stood out?
The best throw of practice without a doubt belonged to rookie quarterback Max Brosmer. He connected on a 40-yard deep pass to receiver Tim Jones, dropping it into a bucket over cornerback Isaiah Rodgers.
That highlight from Brosmer helped make up for the fact that he fumbled an exchange with reserve center Vershon Lee, then nearly threw an interception to linebacker Blake Cashman.
It should also be noted that backup quarterback Sam Howell parlayed a nice outing in the game against the Texans into a very good showing in practice. Maybe he has turned a corner as he continues to get acclimated to what the Vikings are asking of him.
Quote of the day
“Just going head to head with another football team really puts us in position to find out who we are and what we’re about. It’s fun to come out and see a different face across the ball. I think everybody out here is excited for it.”
— Hockenson, on the Vikings getting to hit somebody else with the New England Patriots coming to town for joint practices
Injury report
Nothing too notable on the injury front in practice. The biggest headline was that edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel was spotted on the sideline in street clothes. There was no update on receiver Rondale Moore after he suffered what seemed to be a serious injury over the weekend.
What’s next?
After the Vikings get some more rest on Tuesday, the joint practices with the Patriots will start Wednesday.
Houston Texans defensive end Casey Toohill (94) blocks a pass from Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
