As he discussed young quarterback J.J. McCarthy this week, going into detail about some ups and downs he’s experienced, head coach Kevin O’Connell made a point to look up toward the heavens.
“The sky has not fallen,” O’Connell said. “We’re all good.”
After garnering a laugh from the reporters in attendance, O’Connell acknowledged some of the struggles McCarthy has been forced to navigate against an aggressive group of defenders on the other end.
“I’ve really seen him grow,” O’Connell said. “He’s a competitive sucker.”
Though he’s been impressed by McCarthy’s competitiveness, O’Connell has been more impressed with how he’s been able to bounce back when things aren’t going his way.
“It’s not like he can physically go put his hands on somebody on the next play like some other positions can, and get some anger and aggression out,” O’Connell said. “He just needs move on to the next play and do his job, and implore the other 10 guys in the huddle to meet the moment and do their job.”
That’s exactly what McCarthy has done time and time again. That’s a good sign for the Vikings.
Here are more takeaways from Day 9 of training camp:
How does J.J. McCarthy look?
It was a strong performance from McCarthy at every stage of practice. He carried himself with a ton of confidence whether he was completing passes in warmups, dialing it up in 7-on-7 drills, or commanding the offense in 11-on-11 drills.
The best throw from McCarthy came in the red zone when he hit receiver Jordan Addison for a touchdown. Not only was it a perfectly placed ball by McCarthy, it was an incredible catch by Addison.
It’s impossible to ignore how much chemistry McCarthy and Addison have been able to build with star receiver Justin Jefferson nursing a mild hamstring strain. That bodes well for the offense when it’s operating at full strength.
Who else stood out?
A physical practice paved the way for a minor scuffle between the offense and the defense.
The sequence started with linebacker Brian Asamoah hitting running back Aaron Jones, then taking a swing at right guard Will Fries. On the next play, rookie edge rusher Tyler Batty leveled Jones, sparking a spirited discussion between the offense and the defense.
Maybe the most notable part of that was McCarthy shoving Batty in response.
The emotional outburst prompted O’Connell to gather the group together. He has a strict no-fighting rule in practice, and while the heated exchange didn’t rise to that level, he clearly felt it was worth talking to his players.
The best quote of the day
“He certainly has a knack for the football, which is a very, very positive thing for him. He’s been better with his techniques, his fundamentals, his communication. Even on the sideline he’s yelling stuff out. He’s been very good.”
— defensive coordinator Brian Flores on cornerback Dwight McGlothern, who has had a few interceptions in training camp
The injury report
It’s worth keeping an eye on tight end T.J. Hockenson moving forward. He spent time time with the trainers and did not return to practice. In his absence, rookie tight end Ben Yurosek got some run with the starters, a reward for how solid he’s been throughout training camp.
Meanwhile, left tackle Christian Darrisaw was not in pads, which shouldn’t spark too much concern. This was likely scheduled rest for Darrisaw. He spoke to reporters this week about how well his body was responding to getting more reps.
What’s coming up next?
It’s expected to be a lighter practice on Sunday as a ramp up to the highly anticipated night practice on Monday.
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