September 14, Sunday night was rough. J.J. McCarthy went 11 of 21 for 158 yards, threw two interceptions, was sacked six times, and never reached the end zone as the Vikings fell 22-6 to Atlanta. For a fan base that is desperate for its next franchise quarterback, it was the kind of game that makes you wonder if the hype was too early. And then Kevin O’Connell went and lit a match under the whole narrative.

At a Kenny Chesney concert, the Vikings head coach reportedly told Barstool founder Dave Portnoy, “Let me tell you about J.J. McCarthy. This guy’s a first ballot Hall of Famer.” His five-word message, “I couldn’t be more confident,” clearly tells that O’Connell is a fan of McCarthy’s play. No matter if they lose with a high margin, McCarthy is hailed as a trusted QB in the league. Probably, that’s the reason why Sam Darnold, even though he led the Vikings to their best record in years (14-2), was asked to leave. That is not casual flattery; that is O’Connell staking his reputation on a young QB.

Portnoy, too, continued, ” I watched another quarterback during my time at University of Michigan lead them to a national championship. It was a late-round draft pick. And I said from day one, watch out for this guy. This guy has everything you need. You know what his name was? Tom Brady….I’ve watched Michigan quarterbacks who have the intangibles that have led teams to national championships be overshadowed, over-doubted in the NFL, and turn around and have a great career.” So, since he has played in two games, O’Connell and Portnoy aren’t listening to the outside noises. And J.J. McCarthy’s Michigan resume backs up why the coach is so bullish.

In 2023, J.J. McCarthy threw for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions while leading the Wolverines to a 15-0 national championship season. His 72.3% completion rate was the third-highest in school history. On the other hand, Tom Brady never hit more than 62% in a college season and had to share snaps with Drew Henson before slipping into the sixth round. So, O’Connell isn’t just seeing a sophomore QB; he’s seeing a champion in his 2024 first-round pick.

In his first two NFL games, J.J. McCarthy hasn’t impressed. 58.5% completions, 301 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions, but O’Connell is not concerned. He still believes in the potential, and for now, till week 2, he looks like a signal caller in development. However, as the team prepares for its home game, it has recently been hit with a setback.

J.J. McCarthy suffers an injury

J.J. McCarthy’s first genuine test came in the week 2 game. After a 27-24 fighting victory over the Bears, the team suffered a disappointing 6-22 loss against the Falcons. However, the major setback was the high ankle sprain that ruled the QB out for 2-4 weeks. That means Carson Wentz is the probable starter against Cincinnati in Week 3.

According to Kevin O’Connell, J.J. McCarthy arrived at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center “very, very sore today. I would anticipate we are not planning on having him for Sunday, and I don’t likely see this being any kind of short-term IR (Injured Reserve) thing, but I do want to see, and [Vice President of Player Health and Performance] Tyler [Williams] and the [medical] group want to see how he responds to treatment this week. Give him a ton of credit, just the toughness to get that thing taped up and keep playing.” Timing could not be worse. The Packers sit atop the NFC North after winning both games. But more than the numbers, it’s an indication that the coming weeks will be tough for the Vikes. But the Vikings are not dead yet.

Justin Jefferson is averaging 17.9 yards per reception this season. Jordan Addison is warming up, and Brian Flores‘ defense has held opponents to just 24 points per game. If Wentz can keep the offense serviceable and avoid turnovers, Minnesota could still be in the playoff mix when J.J. McCarthy returns, possibly in time for a pivotal Week 6 clash with the Eagles.

O’Connell made one thing clear. “We want to see how he responds to treatment this week,” he said, signaling that they expect him back sooner rather than later. And when he returns, he will try to reach the standards of a head coach who believes he can be the next Tom Brady, putting the entire league on notice.