Rookie J.J. McCarthy bounced back from an ill-advised pass intercepted by Las Vegas cornerback Jack Jones by throwing two touchdown passes against backups, showing mixed but promising signs in his preseason debut for the Minnesota Vikings in a 24-23 win over the Raiders on Saturday.
Rookie Will Reichard kicked a 37-yard field goal as time ran out, ending Minnesota’s 10-game preseason losing streak. The Vikings had last won a preseason game on August 24, 2019, at home against Arizona.
“Things are going to go bad, and it’s your ability to respond and handle those situations when it does happen, just being able to have that goldfish memory to just go back out there and have that sling-it mentality,” McCarthy said.
Gardner Minshew, competing closely with Aidan O’Connell for the Raiders’ starting quarterback job, was 6 for 12 for 117 yards and a second-quarter touchdown to D.J. Turner.
The Vikings have been giving newcomer Sam Darnold most of the first-team reps in practice and are likely to start the season with the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, but he’s just holding the spot for McCarthy.
After Darnold went 4 for 8 for 59 yards on the opening drive that ended at the 4-yard line with two incomplete passes, McCarthy entered the game to a loud cheer from the crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium.
In six possessions, the 10th overall pick in the draft from national champion Michigan went 11 for 17 for 188 yards.
Under pressure and moving out of the pocket, McCarthy made a rushed throw on third-and-8 to Trishton Jackson that Jones easily intercepted. However, the rookie showed maturity beyond his 21 years.
“He looked outstanding. Even with the early interception, I know he felt bad about it, but he turned it around and showed it. Great leadership. Getting us in and out of the huddle quickly,” Jackson said. “He’s poised. He’s legit.”
McCarthy connected with Jackson, who had 100 yards on four catches, for a 45-yard touchdown and also threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Trent Sherfield Sr. Kene Nwangu added a 48-yard rushing touchdown while McCarthy was on the field.
He played with enthusiasm, frequently high-fiving and hugging his teammates.
“Clearly, everybody can see the arm talent,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “I just love seeing him come right back after the interception, still be aggressive and still stay true to footwork, timing, rhythm, where his eyes should be.”
Las Vegas’ Daniel Carlson made all three of his field goal attempts, including a 56-yarder, against the team that drafted him in 2018.
Minnesota’s latest attempt at finding a stable kicker, sixth-round pick Reichard, had his first field goal attempt blocked when the Raiders pushed over rookie Michael Jurgens, and David Agoha managed to get his hand on the ball.
Zamir White, now the main ball carrier after 2022 All-Pro Josh Jacobs left, had a touchdown run for Las Vegas. O’Connell played 15 snaps, all on the first possession, ending with a 10-yard sack by Vikings first-round draft pick Dallas Turner. He went 7 for 9 for 76 yards.
Raiders first-round draft pick Brock Bowers had two catches for 25 yards and even lined up as a fullback in some new formations with tight end Michael Mayer.
“I think they’re going to keep growing. You’ve got two young players, a rookie and a second-year player. I’m not going to put any expectations or limits on them. I just think as our offense goes, so do our tight ends,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said.
Both teams gave most of their expected starters at least one series, with the Vikings playing it safe by sitting out a few key veterans: wide receiver Justin Jefferson, safety Harrison Smith, running back Aaron Jones, and outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard.
The Raiders were without wide receiver Davante Adams, who recently left the team for the birth of his third child.
Among the important players who were either injured or limited during training camp and did not play were left tackle Kolton Miller (shoulder) and left guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (shoulder) for the Raiders; and tight ends T.J. Hockenson (knee) and Robert Tonyan (back), cornerback Shaq Griffin (hamstring), and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (foot) for the Vikings.
Kolston Jackson, the younger brother of the late cornerback Khyree Jackson, took part in the pregame coin flip with the Vikings’ captains.
Their parents, Raymond and Ebbony Jackson, were also there as the team honored their son, the fourth-round draft pick who passed away with two close friends in a car crash last month.
