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Kevin Seifert
EAGAN, Minn. — Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will not have any limitations throughout the staff’s offseason program, coach Kevin O’Connell stated Monday as gamers reported for his or her first day of voluntary exercises.
McCarthy, the No. 10 decide of the 2024 draft, missed his rookie season due to a torn meniscus in his proper knee however has been working on the staff facility for a lot of the previous three months to construct his physique again from the lengthy layoff.
“I feel he is able to hit the bottom operating as of at present,” O’Connell stated.
The Vikings have not named McCarthy their 2025 starter, however they’ve bid farewell to 3 quarterbacks who hung out with them final season — Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and Nick Mullens — and haven’t but signed a alternative. Brett Rypien is the one different quarterback on the roster. The Vikings held severe inner discussions about signing veteran Aaron Rodgers final month however put the concept on maintain whereas McCarthy works via the offseason.
O’Connell stated Monday that “we have a reasonably detailed plan for a way we wish to go about” including a number of quarterbacks to the roster. The delay will be partially attributed to the NFL’s post-draft deadline at no cost brokers affecting groups’ formulation for compensatory draft picks. However basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stated final week that the method shouldn’t be the one issue.
“We have been affected person and actually evaluated quite a lot of alternative ways we might probably do this,” O’Connell stated of including one other quarterback. “There’s potential trades and free company and nonetheless the draft. We’re going via a means of simply determining who’s the participant that we wish to solidify that room with understanding that J.J. and Brett are right here working, beginning at present, and finally we’ll full that room and nonetheless have a aggressive scenario in there, nonetheless you have a look at it.”
Carson Wentz is amongst a handful of veteran quarterbacks nonetheless obtainable on the free agent market. Gamers who could be obtainable through commerce embody the Atlanta Falcons‘ Kirk Cousins, the Seattle Seahawks‘ Sam Howell and the Las Vegas Raiders‘ Aidan O’Connell.
Within the absence of any proof on the contrary, although, Vikings gamers are making ready for the probability that McCarthy would be the starter.
“He appears nice,” operating again Aaron Jones stated. “I’ve seen him at present shifting round. He appears good within the weight room, appears good, assured. I am very assured in him. He has all of the assist round him and we’re right here to raise him up and he’ll be able to go.”
