But at the start of the Vikings' 2025 season program on Monday, April 21, O'Connell made McCarthy's outlook abundantly clear. Offering an update on several players recovering from long-term injuries, O'Connell, unpromoted, cleared McCarthy to enter the offseason program.

And finally, they traded up in the draft for Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. But things didn't go 100% according to plan. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury during the preseason and in his absence,

As the Vikings begin their offseason program this week, they're now positioning 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to begin the season as their starting quarterback. McCarthy has said he's recovered from the knee injury that kept him sidelined for his entire rookie season.