McCarthy, the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, was battling with Darnold to be the starter in Minnesota summer before a torn meniscus suffered in the preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders ended his rookie year prematurely.

While everyone else in the NFL 's record crop of first-round quarterbacks in the draft last year launched their careers on the field, J.J. McCarthy was forced to begin his with film study and in the training room for the Minnesota Vikings.

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, speaking Tuesday to local reporters for the first time since last fall, appears as confident in himself as the team is in him.