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Colin Cowherd makes bizarre comparison between training a puppy, being patient with JJ McCarthy

ProfilePhotoby: Nick Geddes09/17/25NickGeddesNews
JJ McCarthy
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Colin Cowherd is willing to show some patience when it comes to training a puppy. He does not believe the Minnesota Vikings can be patient for long with second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy.

McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury and is now running the offense under center for one of the league’s most talented rosters in Minnesota. Most rookie/young signal callers need time to develop, but Cowherd said Wednesday that process needs to speed up for McCarthy.

“I will be patient potty training a puppy, but JJ McCarthy does not get to pee on the carpet. He’s got to be good,” Cowherd said on his FS1 show. “In the next seven to eight weeks, I got to see something.”

The unfortunate thing for McCarthy is he spent his entire rookie season holding a clipboard rather than getting live reps. The Vikings did not re-sign Sam Darnold in the offseason, giving McCarthy the opportunity he needed for the 2025 season.

Two games in, and McCarthy has struggled in seven of eight quarters of football. He led his team back in the Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears, thanks to a stellar fourth quarter performance. This past Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons, McCarthy and the Vikings looked lost on offense. McCarthy completed just 11-of-21 passes for 158 yards and two interceptions in the 22-6 defeat.

JJ McCarthy set to miss time with ankle injury

On top of that, McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain, and he is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with the injury. Just like that, it’s back to the sideline for McCarthy. That’s more missed reps for the 22-year-old which spells trouble for the Vikings, Cowherd said.

“So, I hear this about JJ McCarthy, who in seven of eight quarters, has been awful. I’m hearing this, ‘You got to be patient.’ Not really. I hear that about CEO’s, be patient, see the vision, long-term growth. They have quarterly earnings calls with investors and shareholders. Yeah, speed her up, champ, or we’ll find a new CEO,” Cowherd said. “This Vikings team, No. 1, could lose their great defensive coordinator by the end of the season, Brian Flores to a head coaching job. No. 2, their amazing left tackle, Christian Darrisaw, is 26 but he’s already had one major surgery and several other injuries. Left tackles are hard to find and especially those as good as him.

“And the roster is too good, so it’s going to get really expensive within the next year to two years. I mean, this team in the last couple years has won 13 and 14 games, two out of the last three years. I know patience is a virtue, and I understand that, but have you ever gone to an NFL practice? They don’t have virtue drills. And Green Bay, your primary rival, is great right now and because of the youngest roster, they’re only getting better. So, let’s be patient for three years and go 0-6 against your rival. I don’t buy it.”