From preseason hype to a hard-hitting reality, Minnesota Vikings fans have seen their optimism turn to frustration. Rookie QB J.J. McCarthy, who had all eyes on him, is now sidelined for the entire 2024 season. This leaves Sam Darnold with the weight of Minnesota’s hopes on his shoulders. Although he was already in line for QB1, Darnold now has no choice but to prove himself. As one NFL analyst puts it, it’s time for Sam to “put up or shut up.”

Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, on 14th August, ESPN’s senior reporter Mina Kimes made her stance crystal clear: “I am a ‘Sampathizer’,” and fully onboarded the Sam Darnold hype train. It all started when Andrew Siciliano tossed out the question: “I am not a Sam ‘truther,’ but I am interested in knowing what an extended Sam Darnold residency [at the Vikings] looks like?” Mina jumped right in! She set the stage for a deep dive into what Darnold could deliver under the Minnesota spotlight.

Mina called out the reality: Darnold’s career has been like a fumbled snap—full of unfortunate situations and instability. For instance, his 2022 season with Carolina, she said, was a mixed bag of performances. Especially his performance in the December 2022 3-24 win over the Seahawks where he ended his night with an 85.4 passer rating, a 58.33 percent completion rate for 120 passing yards, and one touchdown. Most importantly, he finished with no turnovers. Mina reminded us that Sam has shown flashes of brilliance but hasn’t had the best playbook thrown his way, further stating, “He has been failed by so many situations.” But, now, in Minnesota, he’s got a real shot—it’s a different ballgame.

With six offensive coordinators in as many seasons, it’s no wonder Darnold hasn’t hit his stride. But with Kevin O’Connell calling plays, Mina believes the tides could turn for Sam. After all, O’Connell is the second-best offensive mind Darnold’s ever worked with. Only behind Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco. The Vikings also offer a solid offense with playmakers like Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones. While Jordan Addison, too, offers that great potential, he would likely be out for the first three games owing to suspension for a first-time DUI offense under the NFL’s substance abuse policy. But, beyond that, if everything clicks, Darnold could be eyeing a winning season.

Mina dropped the mic on her argument: “If he [Sam] doesn’t succeed now, we will shut up and forever hold our peace.” So, it’s put-up or shut-up time for Darnold, and with the Vikings’ infrastructure in place, it’s now or never. Can Sam finally hit that deep ball and prove he’s the guy? We shall find out.

As for J.J. McCarthy’s recovery plans, well, O’Connell and co. are trying to create an optimistic environment for the rookie to grow in.

Kevin O’Connell has “great plans” for J.J. McCarthy!

McCarthy’s preseason injury against the Raiders has sidelined his rookie debut. While he joins QBs like Jordan Love and Carson Palmer in not playing his first season, there’s a silver lining. O’Connell is turning McCarthy’s setback into a prime off-field opportunity. This rookie’s story is just starting to unfold—stay tuned!

“We’ll have a great plan for him,” the head coach said. You could say that he might have masked his disappointment, but he did so well enough to appear in front of the media as a mentor eager to help his rookie grow. With Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall in the quarterback room, McCarthy will be learning from the best while recovering—call it the ultimate sideline schooling.

This forced pause might be the hidden blessing no one saw coming, especially for O’Connell, who will get to analyze Sam Darnold, in particular, a lot more closely. Meanwhile, emphasizing McCarthy’s mental game, Kevin assured that he would be the right guy to build for the future. The HC said, “He had started to really look like an NFL quarterback.” He echoed that this makes it even harder to digest, but urges everyone to remain positive.

The coach remains hopeful, channeling the stories of other quarterbacks who faced early challenges but emerged better. “Other quarterbacks in our league have gone through similar things early on in their journey and come back stronger,” O’Connell reminded everyone. The bumps are real, but J.J.’s growth is too.

So, even if the 2024 season veers off course, the Vikes could still end up winning the long game. With Sam Darnold steering and McCarthy on a learning curve, this setback might be the overtime twist that sets up a comeback.