Rams' Blake Corum Defends Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy: 'He's Still Writing His Story'

Corum, McCarthy's former Michigan teammate, believes the young QB has the potential to overcome early NFL struggles.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:08am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented, geometric representation of a football game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.A former college teammate's unwavering support for a young NFL quarterback's potential to overcome early struggles and find success.Chicago Today

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum has been vocal in his support for his former University of Michigan teammate, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who has faced scrutiny for his performance in his first two NFL seasons. Corum believes McCarthy's talent and leadership qualities will help him overcome early challenges and develop into a top-tier quarterback, pointing to the journeys of other young QBs like Sam Darnold.

Why it matters

The Vikings' quarterback situation has been a major storyline this offseason, with the team signing Kyler Murray and bringing back Carson Wentz to provide competition and stability. Corum's public defense of McCarthy highlights the importance of a positive team environment and the impact a supportive teammate can have, even as McCarthy struggles to find his footing in the NFL.

The details

Despite the Wolverines' success as a run-first team, McCarthy shone as a leader at Michigan, completing 72.3% of his passes for over 2,900 yards in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. However, the transition to the NFL has been difficult for McCarthy, as he missed his entire rookie season due to a preseason knee injury and struggled with injuries and limited playing time in his second year. This has led the Vikings to reevaluate their quarterback strategy, signing Kyler Murray and bringing back Carson Wentz.

  • In the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, McCarthy had a 72.3% completion rate and over 2,900 passing yards.
  • McCarthy missed his entire rookie NFL season in 2025 due to a preseason knee injury.
  • In the 2026 NFL season, the Vikings signed Kyler Murray and brought back Carson Wentz to provide competition and stability at the quarterback position.

The players

Blake Corum

A running back for the Los Angeles Rams who played with J.J. McCarthy at the University of Michigan.

J.J. McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback, who has faced scrutiny for his performance in his first two NFL seasons after a successful college career at Michigan.

Kyler Murray

The quarterback signed by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 offseason to provide competition and stability at the position.

Carson Wentz

The quarterback brought back by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 offseason to provide competition and stability at the quarterback position.

Sam Darnold

A young quarterback who has overcome early struggles in the NFL to find success, which serves as an example of the potential for McCarthy to develop into a top-tier quarterback.

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What they’re saying

“He's still writing his story. He's still young, he's still got a lot of time to prove himself. I believe in him, I believe in his talent, I believe in his leadership abilities.”

— Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams Running Back

What’s next

The Vikings will continue to evaluate their quarterback situation during the 2026 NFL season, with McCarthy, Murray, and Wentz all competing for the starting job.

The takeaway

Corum's public support for his former teammate McCarthy highlights the importance of a positive team environment and the impact a supportive teammate can have, even as a young quarterback struggles to find his footing in the NFL. McCarthy's potential, as evidenced by his college success, suggests he may still be able to develop into a top-tier quarterback with the right guidance and opportunities.