Sport

J.J. McCarthy stats today: Vikings QB overcomes early INT, tosses two TDs in sharp preseason debut vs. Raiders

- by qbruc

J.J. McCarthy entered the NFL hoping to prove himself as a smart game manager with the tools needed to develop into a franchise quarterback.

The Michigan product helped back up that assessment in his preseason debut against the Raiders.

The Vikings rookie played a majority of Minnesota’s meeting with Las Vegas. He was on the field for six drives and put together an encouraging performance, showing off his athleticism, intelligence, and arm talent throughout his Vikings debut

McCarthy wasn’t perfect, but his ability to battle back from a critical mistake should encourage a Minnesota front office that saw enough in him to select him 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Here’s what to know about McCarthy’s professional preseason debut, including his stats and highlights.

MORE: How Caleb Williams fared in preseason debut vs. Bills

J.J. McCarthy stats today

McCarthy played six drives for the Vikings in his NFL preseason debut against the Raiders. That was far and away the most among the 2024 first-round quarterbacks who played in preseason Week 1, with Bo Nix still left to play on Sunday.

McCarthy struggled early on as he faced relentless pressure from a solid Raiders pass rush, but he improved as the game went on. He completed 11-of-17 passes for 188 yards and had a couple of nice, long touchdown passes to Trishton Jackson and Trent Sherfield in the second half.

However, it’s worth noting that McCarthy’s downfield success came more consistently with Las Vegas’ backups in the game. He was up-and-down in the first half and threw an interception on his second drive when he was pressured by the Raiders’ strong defensive front.

Below is a full look at McCarthy’s stats from his first professional outing:

Stat Total
Comp/Attempt (%) 11/17 (64.7%)
Passing yards 188
Passing TDs 2
INTs 1
Yards/attempt 11.1
Passer rating 116.8

McCarthy also ran for 18 yards on two scrambles during the game. He showed good pocket movement throughout the contest, which should help him avoid sacks and create throwing lanes at the NFL level.

NFL RULE CHANGES: Kickoffs | Guardian Caps | Chain gang

J.J. McCarthy highlights vs. Raiders

McCarthy’s first completion came on a first-and-15 when he found Jalen Nailor over the middle of the field for an 18-yard gain.

Nailor was wide open on the play, but McCarthy showed nice pocket mobility skills to set up the easy toss. He stepped up into open space to avoid pressure from Janarius Robinson — who beat right tackle Walter Rouse — and was able to set his feet to make the completion look easy.

 

McCarthy’s first drive didn’t end well, however. He once again faced pressure in the pocket on a third-and-8 and nearly got sacked after Kene Nwangwu got run over in pass protection.

McCarthy was able to escape, but he tried to fire a throw on the move to Trishton Jackson before he got hit by an oncoming pass rusher. The ball hung in the air a bit too long, and Raiders defensive back was able to undercut it for an interception.

 

The pressure may not have been McCarthy’s fault, but he probably shouldn’t just thrown the ball away rather than force it down the field. The Vikings will likely chalk that up as a rookie mistake on which he can build.

McCarthy rebounded well on his second drive, completing his longest pass of the day — a 24-yard to Jackson — with a defender right in his face. McCarthy showed great arm strength and accuracy on the play, which set up a 48-yard Nwangwu touchdown.

 

McCarthy continued to build momentum on his third drive. He was able to scramble away from Las Vegas’ relentless pass rush and find a lane to scramble for a first down on a third-and-5. He followed that up with a perfect strike to Jackson down the field.

 

The McCarthy-Jackson connection continued to be fruitful into the second half. The Michigan product found the fourth-year veteran wide open down the field again on Minnesota’s first drive of the second half. He had all the time needed to hit Jackson in stride down the field for a touchdown.

 

McCarthy had a similar throw on his sixth drive of the day. He found Trent Sherfield wide open streaking down the field and hit him with ease to notch a second touchdown.

 

McCarthy’s interception is just about the only blight from his preseason debut. His ability to overcome that mistake and put together a strong outing should encourage Kevin O’Connell’s staff.

McCarthy also largely played with backups, so it’s safe to assume he will fare better with Minnesota’s starters playing in front of him — much like his play and time in the pocket improved after halftime when the Raiders put more of their reserves on the field.

It will be interesting to see if McCarthy can grow as he plays more in the preseason. Even so, the 21-year-old’s debut should give Vikings fans hope that he can eventually grow into a franchise quarterback.

Related Posts

Insanely Rich NFL Players Who Live Like Average Joes

Gronk and Julian Edelman Share Their Favorite Stories About Facing Richard Sherman

Colorado vs Oregon in the Playoffs! – Skip Bayless on Deion Sanders’ Buffs DESTROY Utah 49-24