Kevin O'Connell plans to get J.J. McCarthy first-team reps 'as well' throughout training camp

J.J. McCarthy is set to receive first-team reps at Minnesota Vikings training camp, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell.

Sam Darnold will receive the bulk of them for now and is the projected starter Week 1. The veteran quarterback has a leg up right now, but the first round pick McCarthy might get a shot to earn the starting gig.

O’Connell explained his reasoning for the split in reps.

“I’m always going to do whatever I think is best for the team to give us the best chance to win, while also understanding that the journey for a young quarterback in this league — and I’m really talking about both Sam and J.J. McCarthy — is really defined in a lot of ways by things outside of their control,” O’Connell said, via the NFL’s Kevin Patra. 

“I think we set up a plan to give both those guys a ton of reps throughout training camp. I did feel like Sam, through his work in the spring and where he’s at in his career, earned the right to have the bulk of the first-team reps early on, but we’ve got a plan to get J.J. some reps as well.”

J.J. McCarthy will see first-team reps in camp

The Vikings selected McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“Listen, I’m so excited about J.J. McCarthy,” O’Connell said. “He’s confirmed in every possible way what we had hoped and really proven in a lot of ways early on to be even more than we hoped from the standpoint of the type of person and player we brought in. That leads to the practice field where he gets to play against Brian Flores’ defense every day and have a true learning environment right in front of our very eyes.”

The vibes around the Vikings are seemingly high regarding McCarthy, considering he’s the long term option. Still, the team wants to get its money’s worth with Darnold.

“Being the competitor that I am, of course (I want to play),” McCarthy said in June. “But this is such a blessing for me, like I grew up watching Sam Darnold my entire life. And being able to just sit there and watch him, watch Nick (Mullens), watch (Jarren Hall) and it’s not what they say to me. It’s what they do and just being a sponge. 

“Just observing them and eventually, hopefully, one day surpassing them, but right now, you know, they’re just phenomenal human beings that are sharing their wisdom with me. And, you know, I just can’t thank them enough for that and I can’t wait for training camp.”