So it was worth noting how Jefferson assessed McCarthy as training camp began last week. But there is no substitute for time on the field, and McCarthy's uneven start to training camp has required more patience than some might have expected. After missing his rookie season with a knee injury, J.J. McCarthy is set to be the Vikings' starting quarterback. Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesOnce the pads came on, however, McCarthy and the entire Vikings offense have struggled to move the ball. There has been a natural tension in Vikings training camp ever since Flores arrived in 2023, largely because his combination of blitz packages and coverage schemes are different from almost every NFL team.