New quarterback J.J. McCarthy, see, was far from the star of the show. His No. 9 still housed a bouncy step and bubbly smile, but the energy didn't translate to any meaningful offensive momentum, especially in team drills.

McCarthy has impressed, Brian Flores' defense looks sharp and there are roster battles aplenty as the Vikings prepare to put pads on Monday.

J.J. McCarthy shines subtly, Jonathan Greenard dominates, UDFAs and Dwight McGlothern emerge. Dive into on-site analysis on The Real Forno Show, your top Minnesota Vikings podcast from Vikings 1st & SKOL.

The Minnesota Vikings are entering the 2025 NFL season with a new face at the helm. They are turning to an inexperienced quarterback, who hasn’t played a single NFL snap owing to a knee injury in the 2024 preseason opener.

McCarthy missed all of his rookie season last year due to a knee injury. He missed valuable time, but the Vikings are still very confident in his ability. However, the questions remain about his ability to take over the starting job.

Ever since J.J. McCarthy was drafted many have debated whether or not he should start right away. Sam Darnold was signed to the Minnesota Vikings this spring as a potential bridge quarterback. And according to a good number of draft "experts" McCarthy was viewed throughout the process as a quarterback prospect that may take some time to develop before he was fully ready to start.