Nearly one year after tearing the meniscus in his rightknee, Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy made his emotional return tothe field for Saturday’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
‘I had a little teardrop, I’m not going to lie,’ McCarthysaid after the Vikings’ 20-10 victory. ‘Being out there before the nationalanthem. This game is the best game in the world and to be out there with thiskind of group, with this coaching staff … it was absolutely terrific.
‘I was actually getting kind of emotional last night,’McCarthy said. ‘It’s just the journey any injured player goes on to being backout there doing the thing that they love. It was really special [today], forsure.’
Unfortunately for the former Michigan star, national championand first-round pick, it was his backup, Sam Howell, who had fans talking afterwards.
McCarthy, 22, played just the Vikings’ opening drive,completing 4 of 7 passes to set up a field goal.
The 24-year-old Howell, meanwhile, completed 11 of 13 passesfor 105 yards. Best of all, the former North Carolina star engineered a 94-yardscoring driver that ended with a QB sneak for the touchdown.
McCarthy, 22, played just the opening drive, completing 4 of 7 passes to set up a field goal
The 24-year-old backup quarterback Sam Howell completed 11 of 13 passes for 105 yards
‘Sam had the better game for sure,’ one fan wrote on X.
‘If JJ struggles, Howell will absolutely ball out in that system,’ another added. ‘No doubt in my mind.’
To be clear, McCarthy did not look bad.
After receiving a rousing ovation from the home crowd as he stepped under center for the first time, he completed his first four passes, three to Jordan Addison, who made a sliding grab for an 18-yard gain on one. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick last year out of Michigan, also ran 8 yards for a first down on fourth-and-4 at the Texans 43.
‘I love the fact that we were able to execute and hit an explosive in the play-pass game,’ head coach Kevin O’Connell said of the drive. ‘I love the fact that we converted some third downs. I loved the fact that on fourth down, he used his legs to steal one.
‘I think there’s a level of composure and poise to how he ran the show today that was exactly what I was looking for. And now we go back to work.’
Vikings QB JJ McCarthy throws a pass over Houston Texans defensive end Solomon Byrd
The work resumes when the Vikings hold two days of joint practices with the New England Patriots later this week, and McCarthy said there is still plenty he can improve on.
‘Continuing to master the offense and really understand the timing and rhythm of each play,’ McCarthy said. ‘All the little things like footwork and how I’m getting out of my fakes. Just little stuff.
‘This is an extremely hard offense to run, but once you master it, things run really smoothly.’
With Sam Darnold under center, the Vikings finished the regular season last year 14-3 before falling to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs. But Darnold departed for the Seattle Seahawks this offseason in free agency and O’Connell has turned the offense over to McCarthy.
