Kevin O’Connell should be eager to get J.J. back, as he has shown his ability to elevate players. In 2022, he turned Kirk Cousins into a clutch merchant and guided Josh Dobbs to a comeback victory just five days after trading for him.
Last year, O’Connell also helped resurrect Sam Darnold’s career, resulting in a three-year, $100 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. Meanwhile, McCarthy spent last season recovering from a torn meniscus, but was back on the field in the offseason, working on his fundamentals and technique with the Vikings' offensive staff.
He was rebuilding his fundamentals and technique without having to navigate the pressure of an NFL defense trying to take his head off.
Author's summary: Kevin O'Connell waits for J.J.'s return.