NFL Rookie Roundup 360: J.J. McCarthy news, Xavier Worthy shines, grading Javon Bullard

J.J. McCarthy already has NFL dreams set on a successful 2025 return, but having his rookie season end before it even started was a kick in the lower regions for Minnesota Vikings young quarterback who looked like he was trending as the team’s starter player to tearing his meniscus in his first preseason game.

Other than seeing his former team get pounced by the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, the most frustrating part of the NFL opening weekend is that McCarthy won’t be suiting up and making his NFL debut.  With that being his reality, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is still in shock.

“Extremely shocked,” McCarthy said when asked about the season-ending injury.  “I thought it was a bruise.  I thought at most it could’ve been a strain somewhere.  But when they told me it’s a pretty serious tear, yeah, I was taken away by that.”

That is how quickly things can change in the NFL.  At the same time, things happen for a reason.  Will McCarthy being out for the year open the door for a Sam Darnold revival?  That’s now the biggest story in Minnesota, but when it comes to the future, the Vikings and SKOL Nation did get a glimpse of what they have in McCarthy.  With a season watching and learning the playbook, the Vikings rookie quarterback should come back even stronger in Year 2.  With the injury, he is already taking stock in the positives.

“I feel like I’ve been able to gain those deeper connections with my teammates and really take a step back and learn the offense, you know, in a more relaxed state of mind,” McCarthy said. I’m just appreciating every moment.”

Patrick Mahomes loves what he has in Xavier Worthy

It didn’t take long for Xavier Worthy to make an impact in the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense.  In the team’s 27-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, the No. 28 overall pick out of Texas has a splendid debut with a 21-yard touchdown run and a 35-yard touchdown reception (see below).  Both plays showed off his playmaking ability from anywhere on the field and obviously that speed he has.

Serving as an instant reminder of the Tyreek Hill days, it’s scary to think of how much of an impact this rookie receiver will have once he and Mahomes get comfortable with one another.  Speaking of the veteran quarterback, he is licking his chops when it comes to his new game breaking weapon.

“Just having him out there, it just opens up stuff,” Mahomes said following the game.  “You saw when he’s out there, they’re playing shell coverages.  It’s getting guys like [Travis Kelce] and it’s getting guys like [Rashee Rice] open underneath, and that’s what’s so great about this offense is we’re able to do all of that, and that’s when we’re at our best.”

With the Chiefs averaging 9.5 yards per play with Worthy on the field, opposing defenses are going to have to figure out to limit that speed, especially once the Texas product really finds his footing in the NFL.

 Javon Bullard has solid debut with Packers

The Green Bay Packers had two selections in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.  In taking Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper with the No. 45 overall pick and then Georgia safety Javon Bullard with the No. 58 overall pick, this NFC North squad selected two players who will insert physicality and energy into the defense.

While each will play a role in the defense right away, it is Bullard who is the most pivotal rookie for the Packers because he’s a building block in the team rebuilding their safety group.  With the drafting of Bullard and signing Xavier McKinney, Green Bay will have an interesting defensive backfield if Bullard lives up to expectations and so far, he has with a strong training camp and preseason.

In playing more of a big nickel safety at Georgia, Bullard is a football player with great instincts for the position and a player who will rack up the tackles, especially in run support.  He showed those instincts in his NFL debut on Friday in the Packers’ 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.  Bullard was on the field for all 76 plays accounting for 11 total tackles (seven solo).  With the secondary giving up 278 passing yards, it is yard to give Bullard’s debut a high grade, but for a rookie playing in his first game, NFL Mocks will give him a B-.  The team will need impactful plays out of the rookie as the season moves forward.