Jared Allen questions J.J. McCarthy's durability, urging the Vikings to capitalize on their defense's prime before key players age out.
It's time to see progress in Minnesota with Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. That much is evident to one former Vikings star.
Former Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen has some questions about where the team will go at quarterback if they don't see more progress. His view is certainly popular not only in Minnesota but around the NFL. That said, it didn't make his opinion any less interesting when he revealed it.
Allen shared his thoughts on the "Up & Adams Show" with Kay Adams.
"I'll tell you, my biggest question mark is 'Can the kid stay healthy? He had some good games, they go on a four- or five-game win streak at the end. He started playing better football. But, again, you see in that fourth-quarter comeback against the Bears, and we're like, 'OK, there's something there.' And then they get stomped. Then, you know, kind of the same thing they have a game where he starts bad and they come back. So, I think he has some grit. I think he obviously has some potential but you gotta stay healthy. You gotta stay on the field in this league."
Allen questions whether or not the team has the time to wait for McCarthy.
"We got a defense that finished ... red hot, but everybody's getting older. Every year they get older and those pieces start to fall off. So, if you're waiting for J.J. to mature by year five, six, seven, you know, all of a sudden Justin Jefferson is 10, 12 years in. The whole dynamic changes. I'm not one on like fire selling and that kind of stuff but there's a lot of questions that were raised. If you can't stay healthy, you can't stay the starter."
Jared Allen gives his Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement speech, Aug. 2, 2025, in Canton. Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesWhen a Hall of Famer speaks, people listen. And while the Vikings are not certain to agree with everything Allen has to say, it's no secret that his views on this topic have plenty of merit.
At risk for the Vikings is squandering the prime years of star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who by all accounts is one of the three or four best wide receivers in the NFL if not the best. Add in that this may be the last season with defensive coordinator Brian Flores on the Vikings sideline and it's certainly time to start winning now.
Minnesota will look to maximize the talent they have when they take the field to start the 2026 season.