Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback JJ McCarthy is coming off of an impressive 4th-quarter performance in his first ever NFL game, and he is one of the most talked-about stories after Week 1. It was announced on Thursday, however, that the 22-year-old from the University of Michigan is missing practice on Thursday, a headline that typically raises concern amongst fan bases.
JJ McCarthy Misses Practice To Attend Birth Of His Son
But the news is of a positive nature, as McCarthy is not injured. He is instead with his fiancée Katya Kuropas in the hospital as she gives birth to their son.
McCarthy and Kuropas are high school sweethearts. They attended Nazareth Academy High School just outside of Chicago, and have been engaged for about 18 months. The two announced the pregnancy back in May.
J.J. McCarthy is not at practice today. He’s at a local hospital with his fiancée as they await positive news in welcoming their new baby boy. Kevin O’Connell was pumped to share the news.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) September 11, 2025
The story about McCarthy’s absence from practice was delivered by Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, who was “pumped” to share the news with reporters.
It has been quite a whirlwind of a week for JJ McCarthy. After being selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the National Champion quarterback missed the entirety of his first year in the league after suffering an unfortunate injury in his first training camp. It turn, Sam Darnold took the reins and led Minnesota to a 14-3 record, but the team allowed him to walk in the offseason in order to make McCarthy the starter.
Wild Week For McCarthy Continues
Things didn’t get off on the right foot on Monday night. Getting his first start as an NFL quarterback in his hometown, McCarthy and the Vikings struggled early in the Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears. But it was a different story in the fourth quarter, as Minnesota turned a 17-6 deficit into a 27-17 lead, thanks in large part to McCarthy’s play and leadership down the stretch.
J.J. McCarthy and his fiancée are currently at a local hospital, getting ready to welcome their baby boy, per KOC. pic.twitter.com/IcjGsHN48C
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 11, 2025
Instead of entering Week 2 as a disappointment, he has instead turned the heads and garnered the attention of the NFL world, at least for another game.
All indications show that JJ McCarthy is set to be the starter for the Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons, which will be played in prime-time on Sunday night.
