Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy ends joint practices with Patriots on high note: ‘A lot more accurate’

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy was all smiles after Thursday’s joint practice between the Vikings and Patriots when, at one point, he completed 13 passes in a row, including four straight touchdown throws during a full-team, goal-line session.

McCarthy said Thursday was one of his better days of Vikings camp.

The day went so well, he even threw a good incompletion.

His 13-completion streak snapped on a throwaway to stop the clock during the Vikings’ two-minute drill at the end of practice. McCarthy said quarterbacks coach Josh McCown was thrilled with the result, calling it one of McCown’s “favorite plays” of the afternoon because the 22-year-old passer understood what was needed.

“We got seven [defenders] up” at the line, McCarthy said. “I made a protection call, rolled out, threw it away and saved time — little stuff like that is what makes or breaks a two-minute drive and the momentum.”

The plays came together on Thursday for McCarthy, who was efficient in delivering the ball to underneath receivers while hunting for shot plays downfield.

“Felt like the ball placement was there,” McCarthy said.

Coach Kevin O’Connell agreed, although he wasn’t as hard on McCarthy about Wednesday, when he felt the quarterback “had a really good day” against a new defense.

But Thursday was a marked improvement.

“Felt decisive,” O’Connell said of McCarthy. “Incredible amount of conviction in some of the decisions he made, location of the football – a lot to build on.”

McCarthy has focused on specific areas — touch passes, throwing off platform (on the run) — that he was not able to do in the early stages of his recovery from knee surgery last year.

He did both during an impressive goal-line drill with four straight scores: running back Aaron Jones caught a swing pass by the pylon; receiver Jordan Addison snagged a pretty touch pass over multiple Patriots defenders in the back corner of the end zone; McCarthy fled pressure and found receiver Lucky Jackson while on the run; and receiver Thayer Thomas grabbed the last score in the back of the end zone.

“Doing it in this setting should give him some confidence moving forward,” O’Connell added. “At the same time, we have to put this in a little box of what it was and understand how much more the moment will be when you open up on Monday night.”

McCarthy will not play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Patriots, O’Connell said, so Wednesday and Thursday’s practices are most likely the closest he’ll get to game action before the Sept. 8 opener in Chicago.

Quarterback Sam Howell will start against the Patriots, while Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer will also play at some point, O’Connell said.

McCarthy said joint practices were more valuable than a preseason game. O’Connell and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel structured practices to include full-team situational drills revolved around second-and-long, third downs, red zone and two-minute drives.

”You do get exposed to so many different situations,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy, calling himself a “perfectionist,” said that’s another area he’s managing while growing into his role as franchise quarterback.

“That’s something that I’ve been continuing to work on ever since college,” McCarthy said. “I want everything to be perfect out there. That’s just unrealistic. I feel like there’s always ways you can get better, little things like ball placement that you could’ve done more. That’s kind of the psycho in me when [Hockenson] catches a 20-yard high cross and I’m like, ‘Hmm, could’ve been 30.’ But at the end of the day, it’s about staying neutral through those plays.”

A better plan also helped McCarthy in his second day against New England. McCarthy tried looking at the Patriots’ preseason opener for tips about what he might see this week at Vikings headquarters.

“They did not do much of that,” McCarthy said.

Between sessions, O’Connell said coaches did a little bit of game planning off Wednesday’s practice film to put players in better situations on Thursday. Receiver Justin Jefferson also told McCarthy that in the regular season, defenses will be playing Jefferson — and McCarthy — differently because not everyone has one of the best receivers in football.