The Minnesota Vikings defense has reportedly gotten the upper hand on the second-year quarterback in recent training camp practices.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has reportedly "checked critical boxes early on" while serving as the club's full-time starter for the first time this summer. That doesn't mean the 2024 first-round draft pick was flawless across his first training camp practices after a meniscus repair sidelined him for his entire rookie season.

The Minnesota Vikings' season depends on J.J. McCarthy. That's not a particularly bold statement. It's the NFL, where quarterbacks are king to begin with. And this is a Minnesota team that nearly won the NFC North last season with a different QB, Sam Darnold, who is now in Seattle.