If at some point in the future, rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy develops into the face of the franchise the Vikings hope he can be, his performance on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium should be remembered as an important part of the process.

It will be the moment he proved it was possible.

Though the exhibition game between the Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders did not count toward the standings, McCarthy’s brilliance throughout showcased everything he could become down the road. He shined bright in his preseason debut, completing 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards, a pair of touchdowns and an interception.

His arm talent was on display in the way he ripped deep throws downfield. His mobility was showed in the way he scrambled out of the pocket. His leadership came through in the way he hyped up his teammates on the sideline. All the things that made McCarthy worthy of the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Maybe the most impressive thing, however, was the way McCarthy responded when adversity hit in the early stages. After evading some pressure near his feet, McCarthy tried to fit a ball into a very tight window with the pressure closing in around him. The pass got undercut by Raiders cornerback Jack Jones and it went for an interception.

“Honestly, in this league, things are going to go bad, and it’s about having the ability to respond and navigate those waters when it does happen,” McCarthy said. “Just being able to have that goldfish memory to go back out there and have that sling it mentality.”

That’s exactly what McCarthy showed. He didn’t lose confidence in himself at any point.

On the very next drive, McCarthy hung in the pocket in the face of pressure and delivered a pinpoint pass to receiver Trishton Jackson for a 24-yard gain. He followed on the next possession with a perfectly placed ball to Jackson along the sideline for a 21-yard gain.

“I’m pretty sure he’s going to throw another interception in his career,” Jackson said. “After seeing him today, I know how he is going to bounce back from that, and that gives us confidence as a team.”

The highlight plays from McCarthy came later in the game as he effortlessly hit Jackson for a 45-yard touchdown, then hooked up with veteran receiver Trent Sherfield on a 33-yard touchdown. That ended up being the final play McCarthy in the game.

“It was a lot of fun,” McCarthy said. “There’s a lot of work to still do and I’m excited.”

It’s safe to say the Vikings are excited as well as they head into joint practices with the Cleveland Browns next week.

“We want to be smart about that development and make sure that his training camp is absolutely going to plan,” O’Connell said. “I think next week in Cleveland with joint practices will be huge for him like it will be for our whole team.”