From Sam Darnold to Aaron Rodgers? That can’t be the Kevin O’Connell way. Skol Nation wouldn’t stand for it. They didn’t endure a full-blown rebuild just to see a 41-year-old Diva- I mean, QB-waltz in for one last ride. They want the young gun firing. Specifically, they want JJ McCarthy. But now, the Vikings are staring at an unexpected twist—McCarthy’s recovery from meniscus surgery might not be on track. And suddenly, Rodgers’ name is creeping into the conversation.

The Vikings did all the hard work last season to lay the perfect foundation for McCarthy. A team destined for an uncertain ride with Sam under center punched their playoff ticket. So, JJ already has big shoes to fill. But that’s the game. After all, the No. 10 pick wasn’t just a draft selection—it was a declaration. This is the guy for the future!

But if his knee isn’t progressing as planned, the franchise could be forced into an uncomfortable decision: ride it out with a potentially limited McCarthy or make the boldest move of all—bring in Rodgers. And let’s be clear: No one wants to see A-Rod in purple.

The idea of the longtime Packers icon suiting up for their biggest division rival is the kind of alternate reality nobody saw coming. However, desperation makes teams do wild things.

As Diana Russini hinted on the Scoop City Podcast, the Vikings might not be as confident in McCarthy’s recovery as they initially claimed. “At the Super Bowl, they said he was ahead of schedule. Then at the Combine? Not so much.” That’s a shift worth noting. But are the Vikes really that desperate?

Dr. Jeff Mueller said, “McCarthy has just under six months until Week 1. He has progressed to throwing, so we know the repair took. There’s a possibility his cartilage isn’t responding well.” That’s not the kind of report you want to hear when your future franchise QB is supposed to be gearing up to take over. The Vikings need a veteran buffer in case McCarthy isn’t 100% by September.

But Rodgers and Minnesota don’t quite match well enough to convince anyone…

I mean, out of respect, even McCarthy himself has shown nothing but admiration for Rodgers in the past. A resurfaced Instagram post from last year shows McCarthy calling Rodgers a “GOAT human,” sharing a clip of the four-time MVP on The Joe Rogan Experience. But let’s be honest, if JJ sees his 40+ ‘GOAT’ take the QB1 spot away from him, that admiration could turn to frustration really quickly.

So where do the Vikings go from here? If McCarthy’s knee isn’t as stable as they’d hoped, they’ll need to act fast. Rodgers is looking for one last run at a ring. But the whole of Minnesota hopes that it doesn’t come at the expense of the Vikes.

JJ McCarthy is confident to be the guy under center

JJ McCarthy hasn’t taken a regular-season NFL snap, yet here we are—talking about him as the Vikings’ likely QB1. That’s not speculation. That’s straight from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who made it clear: “The most likely scenario, highly likely, is that JJ McCarthy’s going to be the starting quarterback.” No QB battle. No veteran breathing down his neck—at least not yet.

Sam Darnold? Gone. Off to Seattle. Daniel Jones? The Colts took him. That leaves McCarthy sitting atop the Vikings’ depth chart. And while Aaron Rodgers’ name has been thrown into the mix, ESPN’s Adam Schefter isn’t convinced that’s anything more than internal chatter. Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah might have flirted with the idea, but let’s be real—this job is McCarthy’s to lose.

Of course, none of this happens without his knee holding up. After missing his rookie season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been on a mission. He told The Rich Eisen Show his recovery is “ahead of schedule,” and O’Connell backed that up, saying he’s “right where we hoped he’d be at this point.” That’s great news. But let’s not pretend the Vikings aren’t watching his every move this offseason.

If there’s even a slight setback, don’t be shocked if they bring in a veteran insurance policy.

Still, McCarthy isn’t sweating it. He called last year an “invaluable experience,” even if sitting out was brutal after leading Michigan to a national championship. McCarthy’s locked in. He’s counting down the days—literally. “Around 67 days till OTAs,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of time, but not a lot of time to waste.” That’s the mindset you want in a guy who’s about to take the reins.

So, is McCarthy the guy? The Vikings seem to think so. The roster moves say so. His recovery says so. Now, it’s on him to prove it when the lights come on. The future of the franchise is his to command—unless, of course, Rodgers suddenly decides he wants to rewrite history in purple and gold.