Adam Thielen Gets Vocal Again about You Know Who

If you haven’t heard by now, former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is a fan of quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Thielen has not been shy in the last two years about pounding the table for McCarthy, and this week, he continued the pattern.

McCarthy’s stock is low right now, playing second fiddle to new Viking Kyler Murray. But if Thielen has it right, McCarthy’s upside is very much intact.

Vikings QB Plan Still Depends on McCarthy’s Next Step

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back to pass against the New York Giants. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy scans the field before delivering a pass during a road matchup against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. The young signal-caller continued gaining valuable experience as Minnesota pushed toward the postseason. Captured on Dec. 21, 2025, the play reflected McCarthy’s growing comfort within Kevin O’Connell’s offensive system. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.

Thielen on McCarthy

Thielen spoke with Kyle Brandt, and the McCarthy topic surfaced. Thielen opined, “He’s got all the traits to be a successful quarterback in this league. He has the skills. He has the strong arm. He has the mindset that not a lot of guys have, has this dog mentality that everyone wants to find. So, I love those two aspects of him. I think he’s a guy who loves football; he loves his teammates.”

“You feel that in the locker room with him. Now, was there some things that he needs to work on? Yes. Absolutely. He knows that. And I think he’s gone to the drawing board this offseason, I think he’s taken feedback from coach O’Connell, and coach, I think, was very candid with him of ‘This is what you need to improve on.’”

Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill also shared a similar opinion about McCarthy last week.

Thielen continued, “And I think he’s gone to the drawing board and really worked on those things. I think you have to wait and see what that looks like in training camp, when you put the pads on, when you put a full defense coming at him, with preseason games and things like that.”

“But I think he’s gonna step in the right direction.”

McCarthy May Have to Wait for Serendipity

While McCarthy may have all the right stuff, according to Thielen, he likely won’t get a chance to strut in September. For now, Murray is the runaway frontrunner at Vikings organized team activities to win the QB1 job. McCarthy has not struggled; Murray has just looked too impressive for a QB2 job.

On the other hand, Murray is not known for his durability — neither is McCarthy — at 5 feet and 10 inches tall. So, there’s a decent chance that Murray gets hurt sometime in 2026, and in that scenario, all eyes would turn to McCarthy, who would enter the huddle and be asked to script a mini-redemption tale.

There’s a world where Murray gets injured, McCarthy takes over, McCarthy plays great, and just never gives the job back. That happens in the NFL. McCarthy, at least for 2026’s sake, could be down to that alternative, based on the way Murray is trending early this summer.

A High-Pressure Season for His Career

And make no mistake: the stakes are elevated for McCarthy, even if he’s not tapped on the shoulder for the QB1 job this season. Most young quarterbacks show their true colors in Year No. 3, a tell-tale marker of quarterback development.

Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen looks on after a game against the Arizona Cardinals. J.J. McCarthy — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen looks on following a victory over the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Thielen was in the midst of one of the most productive stretches of his NFL career, cementing his status as a fan favorite. Photographed on Oct. 14, 2018, the image captures a defining era for Minnesota’s offense. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.

For instance, if McCarthy sees playing time in 2026 and balls out, there’s no reason to believe the Vikings would deviate from his candidacy as the long-term QB1. After all, not long ago, he was the one-and-only QB1 solution for a team ending the Kirk Cousins era.

Conversely, if Murray refuses to relinquish the QB1 title, well, McCarthy may not stay in Minnesota longer than the 2026 campaign. The Vikings already bungled the Sam Darnold situation. There is precisely zero chance that Murray would thrive in Minnesota while the Vikings’ front office said “thanks but no thanks” to a Murray contract extension in 2027. In that scenario, McCarthy would be looking at a trade sweepstakes in the 2027 offseason.

Thielen Knows Best?

On Thielen, he worked in the NFL for 13 years. He knows things; he’s seen some stuff. If he’s going out of his way to praise McCarthy, he would not do that as a hot-take merchant. There’s no reason to hype a quarterback who stinks, and to Thielen’s credit, he’s pounded the table for McCarthy more than a couple of times.

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy leaves the field after a game against the Dallas Cowboys. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy walks off the field after a road game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The rookie passer continued building momentum during his first season as Minnesota’s starter while navigating playoff expectations. Captured on Dec. 14, 2025, the moment reflects the growing responsibilities placed on the franchise quarterback. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.

Therefore, when you see fans on social media hinting that McCarthy is a bust or just flat-out stinks, Thielen may be a more credible source and quarterback evaluator.

In fact, McCarthy feels like the type of guy who eventually “figures it out,” not unlike Baker Mayfield or the aforementioned Darnold.

McCarthy will turn 24 next January. He still has youth in his favor, and the Vikings have the option to control his contract for the next three seasons.