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As J.J. McCarthy nears return, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell takes himself to task for offense’s woes
O’Connell said McCarthy is “symptom free” from a Nov. 23 concussion and expected to start Sunday vs. Washington.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is expected to retake the reins of a struggling Vikings offense this week as he’s close to clearing the concussion protocol, coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday.
McCarthy is “symptom free,” O’Connell said, and will be a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. If McCarthy remains symptom free after a full practice and is cleared by the team’s medical staff and an independent neurological consultant, he will return as the starter this coming Sunday against the Washington Commanders.
The Vikings offense sank to a new low during rookie quarterback Max Brosmer’s first NFL start against the Seahawks. The franchise’s first shutout loss since 2007 left O’Connell looking inward and pondering further systemic changes.
“We all can be better,” O’Connell said. “I’m going to personally look at myself and continue to find a way to coach the details of the plays that are called, and what type of plays we’re going to call and how many plays we’re going to take into games. If we’ve got to limit our inventory and just demand execution, we’ll do it more than we already have, which has been part of the process over these last few weeks.”
Coaches have already toned down gameplans to help McCarthy and Brosmer, ranging from easier cadences at the line of scrimmage to fewer formations and personnel groupings.
They are considering further simplification to get everyone playing better. The Vikings didn’t run for a first down until the fourth quarter at Seattle.
“It’s getting great combinations in the run game,” O’Connell said, “it’s handling movement defensively in the run game so you don’t end up with unblocked players at the point of attack.”
Brosmer, an undrafted rookie, had shown the ability to “function in our offense” during practices and the preseason, O’Connell said, so he was asked to check into plays at the line and progress through full-field reads.
While O’Connell commended Brosmer for checking into the right play against a Seahawks blitz early in Sunday’s loss, the rookie sped through his progression and threw a hurried deep ball over receiver Jordan Addison.
O’Connell said he believes a simpler approach could “lead to a little bit more rhythm and timing to our pass game.”
A broader necessary change than the individual play calls is O’Connell, the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, having visions for attacking defensive coverages.
The Vikings ranked second in both the 2023 and ’24 seasons in throws gaining at least 20 yards. Seemingly no longer capable of reaching that explosive standard, O’Connell said his in-game decision making needs to reflect that understanding with the type of passes he’s calling.
“It needs to take a back seat to what is the best thing for our offense in that moment, in full transparency,” O’Connell said. “Things I may see, chances to get maybe in cuts screaming or, you know, high crosses running or vertical chances that have always kind of gave us the lift in games.”
Tight end Josh Oliver was supposed to block Seahawks edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence on the fourth-and-1 play near the goal line that led to Ernest Jones IV’s 85-yard interception return for touchdown, said O’Connell, but he pointed the finger at himself for the play call.
Nobody blocked Lawrence and he nearly sacked Brosmer, who hastily tossed an underhanded pick instead of taking the sack.
“Ultimately, I didn’t like the play call,” O’Connell said. “It’s totally on me in that moment. ... We better have a schematically more sound play and that’s totally on me. It’s not on Josh, it’s not on Max ... It was on me and it was a massive play in the game.”
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