Scout shares take on why Vikings' J.J. McCarthy has struggled with accuracy this season
Second-year Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has mostly played like a work in progress when healthy and on the field this fall.
For a piece published on Wednesday, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano pointed out that McCarthy is "obviously missing too many throws" at this stage of his development. Graziano spoke with an unnamed "scout with another team" to learn more about McCarthy's struggles.
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"McCarthy's throwing at only one speed -- all fastballs -- and attributed that to trying to be the hero in a situation where he knows his team is counting on him to help it win," Graziano said about his chat with the scout. "The general sense I get from inside the Vikings' building and out is that he just needs time and reps."
The Vikings made McCarthy a first-round draft pick in the spring of 2024, but he then spent his entire rookie season recovering from a full meniscus repair. More recently, what became a lingering ankle injury limited McCarthy to just five starts over Minnesota's first 10 games of the ongoing campaign.
According to Pro Football Reference, McCarthy began Wednesday ranked last in the league among qualified players with a 52.9 percent completion percentage, a 26.6 adjusted QBR and a 61.7 passer rating for the season. Nevertheless, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said in Wednesday's article that the Vikings really have "no choice" but to stick with McCarthy over undrafted free agent Max Brosmer. Veteran Carson Wentz previously started when McCarthy was sidelined with the ankle issue, but Wentz has since had season-ending shoulder surgery.
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"The accuracy is a concern," Fowler added about McCarthy. "There's no hiding from that. Balls are sailing, and that affects the entire offense. McCarthy needs to hit the layups. The Vikings will be working to help him find more consistency as a thrower. From a developmental standpoint, the team still believes in his work ethic and skill set."
For what it's worth, McCarthy tossed a go-ahead touchdown pass versus the Chicago Bears with under a minute to play in this past Sunday's matchup between the clubs. He then could only watch as Chicago's Cairo Santos kicked a walk-off game-winning field goal.
4-6 Minnesota next plays at the rival Green Bay Packers (6-3-1) this coming Sunday. As of Wednesday morning, ESPN BET had the Vikings as 6.5-point underdogs for that game.
Steelers’ Will Howard Gets Positive News Ahead of Bears Matchup
As Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin likes to say, one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity. That certainly could be the case for rookie quarterback Will Howard this week.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not practice to begin Week 12 because of a fracture in his left wrist. Rodgers could still play Sunday against the Chicago Bears. But Mason Rudolph will run the first-team offense at Wednesday’s practice.
Howard could see some reps with the first-team too.
“In the meanwhile, certainly it’ll provide opportunities for Mason and Will to get quality work as we start the week, and I think that’s the posture that we’re in,” Tomlin told reporters toward the beginning of his Tuesday press conference.
Howard getting first-team offense reps at practice could be tremendous for his development.
When asked specifically about Howard practicing with the first team, Tomlin indicated it was a possibility.
“We’ll see,” Tomlin told reporters. “We’ll see where the week goes.”
Will Howard to See Opportunity With Aaron Rodgers Sidelined
To be clear, Rodgers fracturing a bone in his left wrist is not good news for the Steelers overall. A big reason why the team is 6-4 is because of the 4-time MVP’s leadership and efficiency.
With Rodgers behind center, the Steelers have greatly improved in the red zone this season. The team has been able to navigate a poor time of possession and low number of plays to have a serviceable offensive output on the scoreboard.
But Rodgers not being able to practice before the Week 12 matchup against the Bears is great fortune for Howard. The rookie signal caller missed the entire preseason because of his own hand injury. So, any reps he gets the rest of the year could be crucial to his development.
The timing of Rodgers’ injury couldn’t be any better for Howard. The rookie quarterback just came off injured reserve on November 12.
Granted, Pittsburgh’s primary objective this week will be getting Rudolph ready to face Chicago. Howard’s practice opportunities will likely only be tied to having him prepared enough in case he has to play versus the Bears.
Steelers insider Mark Kaboly reminded Steelers fans of that fact on X on Tuesday.
“If Will Howard gets ‘first team reps’ this week, it will be very few and be just in case Rodgers is out and Rudolph gets hurt in the game,” Kaboly posted. “It doesn’t mean he has a chance to start over Mason.”
But again, any chances the rookie receives in practice is good for his career in the long term.
Mike Tomlin Complimentary of Howard
The rookie quarterback came off injured reserve just a week ago. But the Steelers opened his 21-day practice window on October 22.
Even before that, Howard was studying Rodgers from the sideline. Tomlin told reporters Tuesday the rookie’s work has been very good.
“He’s a sharp guy. Like the general trajectory of his work,” Tomlin told reporters. “He’s certainly in the position that he’s in, doesn’t get a lot of quote/unquote, ‘Steelers reps,’ but the reps that he does get he has taken advantage of, and I’m sure there will be an uptick in those opportunities this week.”
That will surely excite Steelers fans. But as Kaboly stated, though, there’s no doubt that Rudolph is QB2 behind Rodgers.
