The Minnesota Vikings entered the summer season with 2024 first-round draft decide J.J. McCarthy as their beginning quarterback after he spent his rookie season recovering from a full meniscus repair he wanted final August.
Throughout a current chat with Scott Thompson of Fox Information Digital, Minnesota tight finish T.J. Hockenson defined why he is assured McCarthy would be the proper substitute for Sam Darnold after Darnold guided the 2024 Vikings to a 14-3 document.
“He’s bought that change,” Hockenson stated about McCarthy. “He turns that on when he will get on the sector. You don’t actually discover that while you’re simply hanging out and speaking with him, however he actually needs it. He actually needs every thing to be excellent, and he’s a perfectionist for positive, which is superior. …You understand, [the ball] zips on you, and he can spin it. It has been loads of enjoyable to see him in [organized team activities], and [I] cannot wait to get on the market with him in camp and all through the season.”
A report from this previous winter detailed how the Vikings “included McCarthy in Saturday recreation plan conferences” all through the 2024 season because the 22-year-old accomplished a red-shirt rookie marketing campaign. In the meantime, Hockenson spent the opening eight weeks of the season recovering from the torn ACL and MCL he suffered in December 2023.
Over 10 video games, Hockenson recorded 41 receptions for 455 yards as a part of the offense led by Darnold.
Darnold received a three-year, $100.5M contract from the Seattle Seahawks shortly after Minnesota let him attain free company. Hockenson appears to be amongst these throughout the Vikings who imagine McCarthy can match and even higher Darnold’s accomplishments from final season.
“That is my canine,” Hockenson added about McCarthy whereas talking from the annual Tight Finish College summit. “He is likely one of the greatest individuals I’ve been round. Only a younger man that is hungry and desires to study. He needs to get higher. I imply, he’s making a visit down right here quickly, and so he needs to be nice on this league, and I respect that, and he’s keen to do the issues and the exhausting issues it takes to be nice.”
Whispers continue to counsel the Vikings might view signing veteran Ryan Tannehill or buying and selling for Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons as “break-glass-in-case-of-emergency” choices within the occasion that McCarthy sparks issues along with his performances from the beginning of coaching camp by Minnesota’s remaining preseason recreation. McCarthy will look to silence such chatter when the Vikings open the common season with a “Monday Evening Soccer” matchup on the rival Chicago Bears on Sept. 8.
