Vikings stick to process with McCarthy, as Darnold's presence keeps pressure off rookie QB

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The expectations and scrutiny that hound NFL quarterbacks drafted at the top of the first round is mere background noise for J.J. McCarthy in his first training camp with the Minnesota Vikings.

With the presence of Sam Darnold — and the environment they’ve put in place — the Vikings have made a point to keep the pressure off their prized prospect.

“I want a really competitive situation. Sam will be taking the majority of his reps with that first group, but I think you’ll see J.J. maybe get some as well,” coach Kevin O'Connell announced at the beginning of the week. “But also, it’s about the quality and the volume of those reps throughout camp to really continue to holistically attack this quarterback development program and process for J.J.”

With 56 starts in six seasons since he was the third overall pick in the 2018 draft by the New York Jets, Darnold has plenty of experience the Vikings can lean on in the transition from Kirk Cousins and their quest to maintain the potent passing attack fueled by superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Despite his 13-25 record with the Jets and failure to gain traction in his next stop with the Carolina Panthers, Darnold has an unquestionable dose of arm strength that has been on full display so far during camp with several deep connections with Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

With the caliber of players around him in the huddle and the acumen of the coaching staff in offensive strategy, there's ample reason to believe Darnold can be an effective starter. Perhaps even all season, giving the Vikings the benefit of a redshirt year of sorts for the 21-year-old.

“When the time comes, it comes," McCarthy said. "I’m just training every single day so that when that time does come, I’m going to be ready.”

O'Connell put it more succinctly: “Progress is the process.”

McCarthy was only the starter for Michigan for two seasons in a run-first offense, so there are a lot of repetitions for him to catch up on. He said he found it difficult to quickly and confidently recite the play calls on the spot during spring practice, making that his primary goal for training camp.

“I honestly feel like I’ve been here for a year already," McCarthy said.

On a steamy Saturday afternoon, the first practice open to the public at the TCO Performance Center where the Vikings have been headquartered since 2018, McCarthy shined in his turn on the red zone drill by tossing touchdown after touchdown including a crisp fade to Jalen Nailor in traffic.

Darnold is only signed for this upcoming season, after spending last year as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers, so it's not as though McCarthy's heralded arrival suddenly disrupted his outlook the way Cousins was jarred by the Atlanta Falcons taking Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick. McCarthy said he's looked up to Darnold for awhile.

“He’s just been nothing but great," McCarthy said. "He treats me like my little brother.”

Said Darnold: “Everyone learns together in the quarterback room. If I can take things from J.J. that he can teach me, I’ll gladly take it.”

Regardless of how Darnold fares and McCarthy develops, depth is not a concern with Nick Mullens still around as well. Despite his overarching limitations, Mullens amassed 1,110 passing yards over his three starts down the stretch last season.

The depth issue persists on the other side of the ball at cornerback, with Mekhi Blackmon's torn ACL during the first full-team practice on Wednesday the latest setback. Newcomer Shaquill Griffin suffered a soft-tissue injury in his left leg while intercepting a pass on Thursday and will be held out for at least a few more days. The Vikings are likely to sign another veteran soon, O'Connell said.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens throws during NFL football training camp Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Eagan, Minn. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell talks with the media during NFL football training camp Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Eagan, Minn.. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back to throw a pass during NFL football training camp in Eagan, Minn., Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy throws a pass during NFL football training camp in Eagan, Minn., Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold drops back to throw during NFL football training camp in Eagan, Minn., Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold runs through drills during NFL football training camp in Eagan, Minn., Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Vikings quarter back Sam Darnold jogs on to the field during NFL football training camp in Eagan, Minn., Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy signs autographs for fans during NFL football training camp Saturday, July 27, 2024 in Eagan, Minn.. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Saturday signed legislation that averts a government shutdown heading into Christmas, bringing a final close to days of upheaval in Washington after Congress passed a bipartisan budget plan just past the deadline and rejected Donald Trump's core demand in the negotiations.

The deal funds the government at current levels through March 14 and provides $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance to farmers.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had insisted lawmakers would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to close. But the outcome at the end of a tumultuous week was uncertain after Trump had insisted the deal include an increase in the government's borrowing limit. If not, he had said, then let the closures “start now.”

Johnson's revised plan was approved 366-34, and it was passed by the Senate by a 85-11 vote after midnight. By then, the White House said it had ceased shutdown preparations.

“There will be no government shutdown,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Johnson, who had spoken to Trump after the House vote, said the compromise was "a good outcome for the country” and that the president-elect “was certainly happy about this outcome, as well.”

The final product was the third attempt from Johnson, the beleaguered speaker, to achieve one of the basic requirements of the federal government — keeping it open. The difficulties raised questions about whether Johnson will be able to keep his job, in the face of angry Republican colleagues, and work alongside Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, who was calling the legislative plays from afar.

The House is scheduled to elect the next speaker on Jan. 3, 2025, when the new Congress convenes. Republicans will have an exceedingly narrow majority, 220-215, leaving Johnson little margin for error as he tries to win the speaker's gavel.

One House Republican, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, criticized Republicans for the deficit spending in the bill and said he was now “undecided” about the GOP leadership. Others are signaling unhappiness with Johnson as well.

Yet Trump's last-minute debt limit demand was almost an impossible ask, and Johnson had almost no choice but to work around that pressure. The speaker knew there wouldn’t be enough support within the slim Republican majority alone to pass any funding package because many Republican deficit hawks prefer to cut the federal government and would not allow more debt.

Instead, the Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate in the new year, with big plans for tax cuts and other priorities, are showing they must routinely rely on Democrats for the votes needed to keep up with the routine operations of governing.

The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the coronavirus pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security. The last time lawmakers raised the debt limit was June 2023. Rather than raise the limit by a dollar amount, lawmakers suspended the debt limit through Jan. 1, 2025.

There is no need to raise that limit right now because the Treasury Department can begin using what it calls “extraordinary measures” to ensure that America does not default on its debts. Some estimate these accounting maneuvers could push the default deadline to the summer of 2025. But that’s what Trump wanted to avoid because an increase would be needed while he was president.

GOP leaders said the debt ceiling would be debated as part of tax and border packages in the new year. Republicans made a so-called handshake agreement to raise the debt limit at that time while also cutting $2.5 trillion in spending over 10 years.

It was essentially the same deal that flopped Thursday night — minus Trump’s debt demand. But it's far smaller than the original deal Johnson struck with Democratic and Republican leaders — a 1,500-page bill that Trump and Musk rejected, forcing him to start over. It was stuffed with a long list of other bills — including much-derided pay raises for lawmakers — but also other measures with broad bipartisan support that now have a tougher path to becoming law.

Trump, who has not yet been sworn into office, is showing the power but also the limits of his sway with Congress, as he intervenes and orchestrates affairs from Mar-a-Lago alongside Musk, who is heading up the new Department of Government Efficiency.

Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Darlene Superville and Bill Barrow contributed to this report.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., talks with reporters after attending a meeting with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., as the House works on a spending bill to avert a shutdown of the Federal Government, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

The Capitol is pictured in Washington, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks to reporters after passing the funding bill to avert the government shutdown at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks to reporters after passing the funding bill to avert the government shutdown at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., celebrates as the Senate begins voting on the government funding bill just in time to meet the midnight deadline, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)