J.J. McCarthy, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback, participated in the team‘s Organized Team Activities (OTAs) after recovering from a torn meniscus that sidelined him for his entire rookie season. His performance caught attention when he managed to evade pressure and throw a touchdown pass during a practice session on Friday, sparking conversations about his ability to withstand NFL-level hits.
During one practice clip that gained over 700,000 views on X, McCarthy escaped defenders to complete a touchdown. However, several fans questioned whether he could handle real-game pressure, pointing out that he appeared to be repeatedly sacked in the video.
“He got sacked like three times in this clip. Calm down,” one tweeted.
“Bro wouldve gotten sacked twice, what are you talking about?” another wrote.
“Sacked multiple times and ran right into one,” one commented.
Other viewers highlighted that Minnesota’s OTAs have specific rules that protect quarterbacks from contact, which explains why McCarthy was not tackled during the drills.
“It’s almost like it’s OTAs and nobody is allowed to touch the QB lmao,” one wrote.
“They aren’t allowed to sack him,” another said.
“He’s wearing red so they can’t touch him, yall get way too excited about practice vids,” one tweeted.
McCarthy’s injury occurred in the 2024 preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, where he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. Following surgery, he was ruled out for the entire season but is now vying to become the primary quarterback for the Vikings’ offense in 2025.
J.J. McCarthy Reflects on His Return to Football at Vikings OTAs
After months of rehabilitation, McCarthy expressed his relief and excitement about returning to practice with the Vikings. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he shared how meaningful the opportunity to be back on the field is for him.
“It feels amazing,” McCarthy said. “When you get it taken away from you, you take every chance you get to be back out here and really appreciate it, really take the most out of it. There’s just nothing better than being out here with the boys, playing some ball.”
Despite not having played an official NFL game yet, McCarthy remains highly regarded by fans and analysts. Optimism is growing around the Vikings’ chances next season, with some supporters predicting a Super Bowl run.
As McCarthy continues his recovery and development, his performance during OTAs serves as an early indicator of his readiness to lead Minnesota’s offense. Observers will be watching closely to see how he adapts to the increased intensity of regular season play and NFL hits moving forward.