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Kevin Seifert
MINNEAPOLIS — Earlier than going to mattress Friday night time, J.J. McCarthy felt his feelings bubble up. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback was set to play in his first recreation in 364 days, and he stated it was unimaginable to consider it as one other day of summer time soccer.
“It was simply the journey that any injured participant goes on to be again on the market and doing the factor that they love,” McCarthy stated after the Vikings’ 20-10 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday.
“It simply exhibits how a lot I take care of this recreation.”
McCarthy stated there was “somewhat teardrop” through the nationwide anthem at U.S. Financial institution Stadium earlier than he took the sector for a 13-play stint that cemented his return from a torn meniscus in his proper knee that ended his rookie season.
He accomplished his first three passes, all to large receiver Jordan Addison, and led the Vikings to a discipline purpose on their opening drive earlier than coach Kevin O’Connell pulled him from the lineup. McCarthy completed with 4 completions in seven makes an attempt for 30 yards whereas additionally changing a fourth down with an 8-yard run.
“I really like the truth that we had been capable of hit an explosive play within the cross recreation,” O’Connell stated of an 18-yard cross McCarthy threw on an out minimize to Addison. “I really like the truth that we transformed some third downs. I really like the truth that on the fourth down, he used his legs to ‘steal one.’
“And I feel there’s only a stage of composure and poise to how he ran the present. That was precisely what I used to be in search of — and now we return to work.”
O’Connell stated he took McCarthy out after the primary sequence primarily as a result of he did not need to play the remainder of his starters a lot additional. The Vikings began 4 of the 5 offensive linemen they’re anticipated to make use of within the common season, together with Addison and tight finish T.J. Hockenson. Tailback Aaron Jones Sr. sat out, however McCarthy had veteran Jordan Mason — who will cut up carries this season with Jones — on the sector with him, as effectively.
McCarthy has had his ups and downs throughout coaching camp, and Saturday’s outing was no exception. Addison reached behind him to seize one cross then dove to catch one other, and McCarthy threw excessive to wideout Fortunate Jackson on a 3rd down for an incompletion.
After a summer time of practising towards defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme, McCarthy discovered himself shifting sooner than he wanted to by means of his progressions Saturday.
“While you go towards Flo’s protection, your timing is all the time like one hitch and it is obtained to be out,” McCarthy stated. “And I really feel like there was a few events [Saturday] the place I might have sat in there and trusted the pocket and made a greater resolution in that time-frame. The one to Fortunate throughout the center, if I might’ve simply waited a click on longer, I might’ve discovered him in that window.”
McCarthy’s most notable second got here one play later when he transformed the primary down along with his 8-yard scramble. The Vikings imagine he suffered final yr’s meniscus harm on a run, however McCarthy has stated all through camp that he wouldn’t draw back from working this season and past.
“I am nonetheless looking for that second gear the place I can actually flip up the sector and all that,” he stated. “However we’ll save that for the common season.”
McCarthy may not play once more earlier than the group’s Sept. 8 regular-season opener on the Chicago Bears on “Monday Evening Soccer.” The Vikings have two days of joint practices this week with the New England Patriots, which O’Connell recommended would take the place of preseason motion for many starters subsequent weekend, and the coach stated he’ll finally assess whether or not McCarthy will want any work within the preseason finale.
“It felt clear for probably the most half,” O’Connell stated of the Vikings’ efficiency Saturday. “It is by no means going to be good, but it surely felt like we had been a soccer group stepping into the precise route.”
