EAGAN, Minn. — Practice was long over Friday afternoon when quarterback J.J. McCarthy started running gassers across the field. The assumption was that McCarthy was working his way back into shape after an exhausting pre-draft process that ended with the Minnesota Vikings selecting him No. 10 overall.
That, however, wasn’t quite the reason, McCarthy said afterward. As it turns out, McCarthy had jumped right into a friendly competition with the defensive players he faced on the first day of the Vikings’ rookie minicamp. The stakes were simple: During a 16-play drill, only three (or fewer) of McCarthy’s passes could hit the ground. If that happened, the defensive players would run. If four or more hit the ground, he would have to run.
“If you guys saw,” McCarthy said with a smile, “I was out there running.”
Despite a few incompletions and one interception during 7-on-7 drills, McCarthy’s first day in a Vikings uniform went smoothly. It was not by accident, as he has been immersed in their scheme since before the draft. During a private workout with Vikings officials in early April, coach Kevin O’Connell went through portions of his Day 1 install as a way to gauge McCarthy’s schematic aptitude.
Thomas and Knowles were helpful for the rest of the offense, and Thomas was often targeted in the 7-on-7 periods, catching five passes from McCarthy.
