Vikings' J.J. McCarthy breaks silence on Aaron Rodgers, starting QB job in Minnesota

Billy Heyen

Vikings' J.J. McCarthy breaks silence on Aaron Rodgers, starting QB job in Minnesota image

J.J. McCarthy hadn't spoken to local reporters since last fall.

That's how it goes after a season-ending injury before playing a regular season snap for the Minnesota Vikings.

McCarthy, drafted No. 10 overall in 2024, got back with the media on Tuesday. And he had plenty to say.

This offseason was filled with rumors about the Vikings possibly signing Aaron Rodgers and whether McCarthy was ready after his knee injury.

"I know I'm ready to start," McCarthy said, "because of all the work I've put in and just the confidence in my skills and abilities and just being able to do my job. And to simplify things to the best of my ability every single day. And just to take it one day at a time, one play at a time. And I have a tremendous coaching staff, a tremendous group of guys around me that I can lean on and they can lean on me."

MORE: Why Cowboys, Nick Chubb free agent signing makes sense

Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle