The conversations surrounding Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy are starting to feel a bit premature. Yes, he’s already missed a significant amount of time in his NFL career after sitting out his entire rookie season and then missing several games this year, but the fact of the matter is he’s still only played in five NFL games. And for anybody who truly understands football — the development curve of young quarterbacks, the difference between college and the NFL, the adjustment to elite defenses full of bigger, faster, stronger and smarter athletes — this should not be surprising at all.

Learning an NFL system, adjusting to a new scheme, throwing to new receivers and operating against disguises and pressures he never saw in college is a massive leap. Other than the few rare great quarterbacks who walk into the league with things figured out from day one — which is absolutely the exception, not the norm — most quarterbacks struggle early in their careers, especially those not landing on elite supporting casts. That’s exactly why the McCarthy conversations about whether he can be this franchise’s long-term answer are far too early.

He’s played five games. Five. And sure, the numbers aren’t pretty. He's produced six passing touchdowns to eight interceptions, a 52.9 percent completion rate and still not even 1,000 passing yards. But it’s much too early to care about any of that. He was drafted No. 10 overall for a reason. McCarthy is a proven leader with traits, intangibles and long-term upside. Even beyond his on-field potential, he’s the personality type who can command a locker room, motivate teammates and elevate the people around him. He’s a winner, a national champion at Michigan, and none of that has changed.

He’s also developing without a normal timeline. Missing an entire rookie season cost him a real year of NFL reps, chemistry, practice rhythm and speed acclimation. Then he missed time again this year. There hasn’t been any real consistency or continuity for him to build on. Yet he’s still flashed everything Minnesota drafted him for: arm talent, physical tools, mobility, touch, the ability to extend plays and moments of sharp decision-making. There have been plenty of bad moments too, but he has also made big throws, created plays with his legs and even led comebacks this season. The traits are there — now it’s about reps.

And that’s the whole point. There’s no reason to even begin having a real conversation about whether he can be this franchise’s quarterback until at least early next season — and even that is early. He’s going to learn and develop a ton between now and the end of this current season. He’ll get a full offseason as the clear-cut starter. Then, early next season, if he’s still struggling, maybe that’s when the discussion can begin.

But writing him off after five career games is irresponsible and ignores the reality that quarterbacks develop at different speeds.

Look around the league. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are thriving now after rough early starts. Others like Dak Prescott or Patrick Mahomes hit earlier, but that’s not the standard. The vast majority of good quarterbacks were not much better than McCarthy through their first handful of starts.

The bottom line is that there is zero reason to panic about J.J. McCarthy. Through five career games, he’s right where most young quarterbacks are. Patience matters, and he deserves the time and development curve that almost every successful NFL quarterback has needed.