NFL Insider Reveals Vikings’ Unique Plan to Develop J.J. McCarthy During ‘Redshirt’ Year

J.J. McCarthy won’t get to take a single NFL snap during his rookie season. He’s the only first-round quarterback in NFL history to miss his entire season due to injury. The 21-year-old will miss out on several valuable reps, whether they would have happened in practice or real-time game action.

But have no fear. Without a way to get the former Michigan star back on the field, Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings’ coaching staff have a unique plan to get their rookie quarterback the mental reps he desperately needs.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Have a New Green Dot on Defense

J.J. McCarthy ‘expected to prepare like a starter’ each week

Just because J.J. McCarthy won’t be playing any football this season, it doesn’t mean he has the year off. The Vikings are giving him plenty of homework, each week throughout the year.

According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, McCarthy will still be expected to prepare as if he’s the starting quarterback each week.

“McCarthy will be a daily presence within the team, engaging in the quarterbacks room and receiving the weekly game plan. He will be expected to prepare as if he were the starter. While there is no substitute for real game action, the Vikings are investing in their young talent, confident that McCarthy is a future star.”

Dianna Russini on Vikings’ plans for J.J. McCarthy

Russini added that Coach O’Connell is prioritizing spending at least one hour 1-on-1 with McCarthy each week of the season. His goal is to accelerate the rookie’s understanding of the Vikings’ offense, giving him a head start before his NFL return in 2025.

In addition to receiving extra attention from KOC, the Vikings also have assistant QB coach Grant Udinski “providing McCarthy with anything he needs”. McCarthy will also utilize virtual reality programs to help him “grow and see the field.”

Even though he won’t get to diagnose NFL defenses in real-time, the Vikings seem to have a solid plan to help their future franchise quarterback gain other types of experience dissecting defenses. Perhaps when McCarthy’s ready to return next season, we’ll see a quarterback who’s more than equipped for the task at hand.

Related: 4 Bold Predictions for Minnesota Vikings’ Season Opener vs Giants