He faced three third downs, one fourth down and was forced to scramble to elude pressure on a blitz. O’Connell also had to be pleased that the opening drive featured no penalties, sacks or turnovers. The operation looked smooth and organized with his new quarterback at the controls. “It felt super clean,” McCarthy said.

The time has finally come for J.J. McCarthy to solidify himself as the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. McCarthy, the No. 10 pick from the 2024 NFL Draft, missed his rookie season due to a torn meniscus.

J.J. McCarthy's return to the Minnesota Vikings was short but solid. The quarterback, who missed his rookie season due to a knee injury, led a scoring drive in a 20-10 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday.