Colin Cowherd Sounds Alarm: What’s Really Holding J.J. McCarthy Back?

So, here we are—Minnesota Vikings taking a long, hard look down the road with J.J. McCarthy as their supposed franchise quarterback. The offseason saw Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones pack their bags, leaving McCarthy to carry the weight. Sounds bold, maybe too bold? Watching McCarthy’s shaky first five starts, FOX’s Colin Cowherd didn’t mince words: the arm’s there, but the poise? Not so much. Now, here’s the kicker—if a guy like Tom Brady is scratching his head over McCarthy’s throws, what does that say about the Vikings’ Super Bowl dreams? Justin Jefferson’s frustration isn’t just a subplot; it’s a flashing warning sign. Is this just rookie jitters, or have the Vikings gambled on a quarterback who might not be ready for prime time? Buckle up, because this season’s story is far from settled.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 14: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter in the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. — (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)y

The Minnesota Vikings made a huge gamble this offseason. They let quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones leave as free agents.

They clearly had plenty of confidence in J.J. McCarthy. However, he hasn’t looked like an NFL-caliber starter this season.

FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd recently revealed a big concern about McCarthy after watching his first five starts.

“I don’t see it with J.J. McCarthy. His arm is good enough. It’s not an arm thing, but he looks nervous. He’s a player that plays with confidence, and when he loses it after a second pick, he had a couple of really bad drives. Don’t blame him. It happens. This J.J. McCarthy thing, about four more of these, and they got a problem on their hands,” Cowherd said.

“Even Tom Brady was like I don’t know where JJ McCarthy is throwing”@colincowherd & @JohnMiddlekauff on the Vikings QB pic.twitter.com/62UHhDLPNM

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) November 18, 2025

McCarthy has had a few impressive drives this season, but he’s been disappointing for the most part. The talent is there, and if someone can bring the best out of any quarterback, it might be Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.

But so far, wide receiver Justin Jefferson has looked frustrated, and he’s posting the worst numbers of his career with McCarthy throwing him the ball. There will always be some growing pains and a learning curve with a young quarterback, but this isn’t encouraging at all.

With Darnold last season, the Vikings were a Super Bowl contender. Now, with an unproven quarterback who might be more unprepared than they thought he was, they might not make the playoffs, and they may have to make some tough decisions this offseason.

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