ESPN.com · Sep 12, 2025
Vikings not surprised by J.J. McCarthy's eye-opening NFL debut
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EAGAN, Minn. -- J.J. McCarthy was one of the first Vikings players to reach the locker room at halftime Monday night. So he turned around and walked upstream through the Soldier Field tunnel, smacking teammates on their shoulder pads and telling them he would turn around what had been an anemic first-half offensive showing against the Chicago Bears.
If anyone felt compelled to roll their eyes or otherwise recoil from a scene that plays out more often on lower levels of football than in the NFL, they kept it to themselves. Asked about it later, veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said: "He was saying that he's got us. And he did."
