The progress of starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been the talk of training camp at TCO Performance Center. Whether the Vikings had a good practice or a bad one can often be reduced to how McCarthy performed in the heat of battle.

Mike Florio and Chris Simms explain why it’ll serve J.J. McCarthy well getting preseason reps after his injury last year.

Nearly one year to the day since he suffered a torn meniscus in his Minnesota Vikings preseason debut, J.J. McCarthy will return to game action, with coach Kevin O'Connell announcing his new starting quarterback will indeed play in the team's preseason opener Saturday against the Houston Texans.