Vikings get called out over J.J. McCarthy decision

Vikings get called out over J.J. McCarthy decision originally appeared on The Sporting News

It’s Year 1 for the Minnesota Vikings with J.J. McCarthy as the starting quarterback. After missing his entire rookie season due to injury, you might expect head coach Kevin O’Connell to give him plenty of reps in the preseason to prepare for Week 1. So far, that hasn’t happened.

On the latest episode of "The Athletic Football Show," Derrik Klassen stated his desire to see McCarthy have more reps in the first preseason as he takes over a Vikings team with playoff aspirations after winning 14 games last season.

"Unfortunately, it was not as many reps [in the first preseason game] as I would have liked," Klassen said. "I think the starters were only out there for a drive, and I would have liked to have seen two or three."

MORE:Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy gets strong message from Brian O'Neill

Moreover, one reason McCarthy could benefit from having slightly more reps in the preseason is having the opportunity to clean up any issues in his style before the games begin to count.

"Baker Mayfield can throw it through a keyhole the way that we saw from J.J. McCarthy on that throw to [Jordan] Addison," Klassen added. "He also, because he's doing that, sometimes you grip the ball a little too tight and you just overshoot a guy by four yards.

"I'm just hoping that's something he cleans up a little bit more as he gets used to feeling how the bullets are flying again. Because, again, once you haven't played for a year, it can be tricky to feel the timing of all that."

McCarthy saw limited action in the first preseason game and didn't play the second preseason game against the New England Patriots. While the young signal-caller could use the reps to prepare himself, O’Connell is likely valuing keeping the starters healthy on offense to ensure that McCarthy has all his weapons and help at his disposal when Week 1 comes around.