The Minnesota Vikings have high hopes for this season.
J.J. McCarthy will begin his NFL career after missing his rookie season with a knee injury.
Though he has yet to showcase his skills in a regular-season game, he’s already made a strong impression with his teammates.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson recently compared McCarthy to Pro Bowl QBs Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins.
“J.J. is a lot like ‘Staff’ and a little like Kirk,” Hockenson said. “Just depends on the routes and what we’re doing. ‘I want you here at this time, but on the same hand I want you to get open. I’m going to trust you.’”
Cousins was a polarizing figure with Minnesota, as he often struggled to beat good teams and take care of business in big moments.
However, he was great in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offensive system, so that’s an encouraging comparison.
As for Stafford, he’s a Super Bowl champion and one of the most talented passers in recent history.
McCarthy, on the other hand, is a bit of a question mark at this point in his career.
He hasn’t played much football in the past year-plus, and there have been conflicting reports about where he’s at this point in his development.
The talent and the intangibles seem to be there, but it’s wise to be cautious with first-year pros, even more so those coming off a major injury.
That’s why some analysts are hesitant to tab Minnesota as a can’t-miss playoff team.
Even so, if the Vikings truly believe in McCarthy as their QB of the future, they need to allow him to grow through his mistakes.
NEXT: Dan Orlovsky Reveals His Expectations For J.J. McCarthy
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