Aside from helping the Minnesota Vikings defeat their opponent, second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy will have several obstacles to overcome when he steps on the field this weekend to take on a talented Detroit Lions team.
McCarthy is returning to the Vikings' starting lineup on Sunday against the Lions after missing the team's last five games with a high ankle sprain, and no one will be surprised if his stomach is fluttering with butterflies at the start of the matchup.
Recently, legendary former NFL quarterback and current FOX Sports color commentator, Tom Brady, shared what Minnesota should do for its young signal-caller this weekend to help get rid of some of those early jitters.
"There's a great saying for a quarterback — obviously, you want to get him in rhythm — but you want to see one of the shots go through the hoop. Once they go through the hoop, you can gain a little confidence.
How do you get the quarterback to play well early in the game and get a little momentum? Just do some easy throws, screen plays, little short three-step drops, get the ball out of his hands. Don't make them make these crazy, full-field reads right out of the box. Let them feel the rhythm.
One thing that's a disadvantage of sitting out is that the speed of the game is different from practice to game day. So, getting a quarter or two quarters under your belt before you really start to turn it loose is really important for these quarterbacks that haven't played in a while."
Minnesota Vikings should listen to Tom Brady's advice for J.J. McCarthy
Adjusting his offense for more than just a few games is something that Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has struggled with during his tenure with the team.
O'Connell has been fine with making some changes for a contest or two, but after a few games, he seems to expect his quarterback to be able to run his offense as it's meant to be run.
That cannot happen with McCarthy.
Brady is correct in that Minnesota should be making sure to give McCarthy some quick and easy throws that he doesn't have to think much about to begin Sunday's game before calling plays with larger drop-backs and wide receiver routes that take longer to complete.
However, this should also probably be O'Connell's strategy for the rest of the 2025 season with McCarthy.
The kid has only appeared in two regular-season games since he joined Minnesota in 2024. Patience will be essential when it comes to McCarthy, and as much praise as O'Connell has received for his ability to get the most out of veteran quarterbacks, his history with young passers isn't as strong.
O'Connell likely has an expectation for what McCarthy should be able to handle on Sunday in Detroit. But boosting his confidence and developing a rhythm for the young quarterback should be at the top of the priority list for the Vikings head coach, whether he likes it or not.