Overview

• Saturday’s preseason opener marks McCarthy’s first live NFL action since he tore his meniscus during the 2024 preseason.
• Head coach Kevin O’Connell has outlined a cautious plan of roughly eight to ten plays, emphasizing situational reps while joint practices handle most of McCarthy’s workload.
• Minnesota built a three-year strategy around McCarthy’s rookie-scale contract after Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks, positioning the signal-caller as its long-term starter.
• General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell will scrutinize his decision-making under pressure to determine if he can rank among the league’s top quarterbacks.
• McCarthy’s 2024 preseason debut (11 of 17 for 188 yards and two touchdowns) remains the benchmark for assessing his arm strength and accuracy this summer.