Day 1 Practice ~ July 29 ~ Players/Media

LIVE: Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores talks to media before Training Camp https://t.co/5YWYBowiSU

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 29, 2026

MaroonBells wrote:

Adam Thielen on what McCarthy needs to work on. The maturity thing sure gets mentioned a lot.
Number one is maturity, not social maturity, but maturity of an NFL QB… the media, practices, preparation… number two, when you look at the skillset, he has the arm talent to make all the throws. But he kind of had this one throw approach his first season of playing where it was only the fast ball.”

So to that point, here's what JJ said today at the podium on his biggest takeaway from last season:

"I would say my biggest takeaway is being obsessive with the day to day routine".

It sounds like JJ needed to learn, like many, that being a professional in the NFL is a daily learning process, its overdrive mentally. Its a complicated offense. Probably harder than any offense any of the other rookie QBs in his class had to learn. He mentioned he had a little paralysis by analysis. I think he learned a lot by failing at times last year. Its a big boy league and it will eat your lunch. Now he knows, you either step up or someone will come and snatch your lunch money. I don't think he understood what it exactly took....its not about throwing the ball 80 mph, its about completing the pass in an optimal way. He just had SO much time off with the injury year he never got a chance to learn that. When he was injured during the season, it was a cluster to gain consistency.

More from JJ: 'Once I got healthier after that Seattle week, Washington, Dallas, I felt like I was hitting an upward trajectory and I'm certain its still been going up since then'

.@blakebrandel is a player all young players should look up to pic.twitter.com/DnpIxaSCcb

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 29, 2026

"Ever since growing up I've always been like prove the people right who believe in me." - @brian_oneill_ on the #Vikings commitment to him pic.twitter.com/mP2CfDJqej

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 29, 2026

Standards don't care about feelings. pic.twitter.com/cpBmf24JyK

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 29, 2026

StickierBuns wrote:

So to that point, here's what JJ said today at the podium on his biggest takeaway from last season:
"I would say my biggest takeaway is being obsessive with the day to day routine".
It sounds like JJ needed to learn, like many, that being a professional in the NFL is a daily learning process, its overdrive mentally. Its a complicated offense. Probably harder than any offense any of the other rookie QBs in his class had to learn. He mentioned he had a little paralysis by analysis. I think he learned a lot by failing at times last year. Its a big boy league and it will eat your lunch. Now he knows, you either step up or someone will come and snatch your lunch money. I don't think he understood what it exactly took....its not about throwing the ball 80 mph, its about completing the pass in an optimal way. He just had SO much time off with the injury year he never got a chance to learn that. When he was injured during the season, it was a cluster to gain consistency.

JJ sounded a little more serious this time around. My lasting impression of JJ from 2025 was all the happy-go-lucky faces. If he can just take a calmer, more serious tack, he might be able to change that perception. At least externally. More Drake Maye and less Sue Heck.

MaroonBells wrote:

JJ sounded a little more serious this time around. My lasting impression of JJ from 2025 was all the happy-go-lucky faces. If he can just take a calmer, more serious tack, he might be able to change that perception. At least externally. More Drake Maye and less Sue Heck.

lmao, that is hilarious. I loved the heck out of Sue Heck, that chick is an incredible actress and one of my favorite characters in sitcoms. She does a podcast and is impossible not to like. Didn't love the show that much, but her performance was amazing. Like I said before, JJ is JJ. That's him. You can not like his personality, but he's genuine....and its a big part of why he's beloved by his teammates. Fans can have their opinions on that.

I'll say this: I liked what I heard from Kyler. He seemed to understand what he's got around him. Said exactly the right things about Jefferson. He's grabbing this opportunity...at least it sure sounds like it. We'll see, but man I liked what everyone said today at the podium honestly. I'm usually not a big presser fan.

StickierBuns wrote:

lmao, that is hilarious. I loved the heck out of Sue Heck, that chick is an incredible actress and one of my favorite characters in sitcoms. She does a podcast and is impossible not to like. Didn't love the show that much, but her performance was amazing. Like I said before, JJ is JJ. That's him. You can not like his personality, but he's genuine....and its a big part of why he's beloved by his teammates. Fans can have their opinions on that.
I'll say this: I liked what I heard from Kyler. He seemed to understand what he's got around him. Said exactly the right things about Jefferson. He's grabbing this opportunity...at least it sure sounds like it. We'll see, but man I liked what everyone said today at the podium honestly. I'm usually not a big presser fan.

Wasn't sure anyone would get the reference. I don't think I saw more than a few episodes of that, but it was genuinely funny. As someone who grew up in a hundred bible studies and youth groups, I have to say they NAILED the Reverend Tim Tom. That is every freaking youth pastor I've ever met. LOL

MaroonBells wrote:

Wasn't sure anyone would get the reference. I don't think I saw more than a few episodes of that, but it was genuinely funny. As someone who grew up in a hundred bible studies and youth groups, I have to say they NAILED the Reverend Tim Tom. That is every freaking youth pastor I've ever met. LOL

I'm a huge fan of character actors. Another one that was amazing is John Dunsworth as Jim Lahey in Trailer Park Boys (Canadian sitcom). Didn't love the sitcom, but he was spectacular whenever he appeared.

StickierBuns wrote:

More from JJ: 'Once I got healthier after that Seattle week, Washington, Dallas, I felt like I was hitting an upward trajectory and I'm certain its still been going up since then'

If you don't notice, nothing positive is ever posted. Just negative. Like with what Adam Thielen said. They left out the part that when JJ is in the building EVERYONE wants to be around him. He has that natural leadership. People gravitate to him.

That is a leader. Period. People want to question his maturity. No shit, hes been the youngest QB in the NFL for 3 years. THREE FUCKING YEARS. Now he is the 2nd youngest.

Murray has the talent. He was a number 1 pick. My fear is that he plays well and gets paid and the same old comes back around. He reminds me of my Salespeople. Always making excuses for why they didn't perform well. Then I have to speak with my Sales Managers and I get the real reason. People that always make excuses on why they didn't perform will always be shown the door before people that come to me and tell me how they will do better and give me situations that failed them, then give me reasons how it will be different the next time around. It is about learning.

Canthony wrote:

If you don't notice, nothing positive is ever posted. Just negative. Like with that Adam Thielen said. They left out the part that when JJ is in the building EVERYONE wants to be around him. He has that natural leadership. People gravitate to him.

That is a leader. Period. People want to question is maturity. No shit, hes been the youngest QB in the NFL for 3 years. THREE FUCKING YEARS. Now he is the 2nd youngest.

Yep. Its just narratives and headlines. The X fanboys don't want to read the stuff about his natural leadership....they want to post the Nine meme. Wait until Kyler gets the Nine meme, lol.....we'll have come full circle as Viking's fans. 😜