MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The emotions hit J.J. McCarthy just before he took the field for the Minnesota Vikings.
One day shy of the one-year anniversary of the quarterback’s rookie season being ended by a torn meniscus in his right knee, McCarthy was back.
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Houston Texans defensive end Casey Toohill (94) blocks a pass from Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy stands on the sideline during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy takes a snap during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy runs the ball during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Finally.
“I had a little teardrop, I’m not going to lie,” McCarthy said after the Vikings’ 20-10 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday. “Being out there before the national anthem. This game is the best game in the world and to be out there with this kind of group, with this coaching staff ... it was absolutely terrific."
McCarthy played just the game’s opening series. But he was 4 of 7 for 30 yards while leading Minnesota on a 58-yard scoring drive that was capped by Will Reichard's 48-yard field goal.
“I was actually getting kind of emotional last night,” McCarthy said. “It’s just the journey any injured player goes on to being back out there doing the thing that they love. It was really special (today), for sure.”
After receiving a rousing ovation from the home crowd as he stepped under center for the first time, McCarthy completed his first four passes, three to Jordan Addison, who made a sliding grab for an 18-yard gain on one. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick last year out of Michigan, also ran 8 yards for a first down on fourth-and-4 at the Texans 43.
“I love the fact that we were able to execute and hit an explosive in the play-pass game,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said of the drive. “I love the fact that we converted some third downs. I loved the fact that on fourth down, he used his legs to steal one.
“I think there’s a level of composure and poise to how he ran the show today that was exactly what I was looking for. And now we go back to work.”
The work resumes when the Vikings hold two days of joint practices with the New England Patriots later this week, and McCarthy said there is still plenty he can improve on.
“Continuing to master the offense and really understand the timing and rhythm of each play,” McCarthy said. “All the little things like footwork and how I’m getting out of my fakes. Just little stuff.
“This is an extremely hard offense to run, but once you master it, things run really smoothly.”
With Sam Darnold under center, the Vikings finished the regular season last year 14-3 before falling to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs. But Darnold departed for the Seattle Seahawks this offseason in free agency and O’Connell has turned the offense over to McCarthy.
McCarthy was replaced by backup Sam Howell when Minnesota's offense took the field for its second possession.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Houston Texans defensive end Casey Toohill (94) blocks a pass from Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy stands on the sideline during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy takes a snap during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy runs the ball during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
MIAMI (AP) — The Florida Panthers arrived in Ferraris, cigars lit, dressed in all-white “Miami Vice” attire — and, in true South Florida fashion, fashionably late.
The New York Rangers followed suit, stepping into loanDepot Park in their own whites and sunglasses.
With that, the 2026 Winter Classic was underway in warm, humid Miami.
At loanDepot Park, home of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins, an expected sold-out crowd — with celebrity attendees that included former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady — had already begun filling the streets hours before the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers were set to host the Rangers in the first outdoor game to take place in Florida.
The retractable roof on the ballpark — which has been shut while air conditioning has been piped in to help ice builders create a playing surface suitable for hockey — will be opened not long before the puck drops.
“I would have never thought that I would play in a Winter Classic in Miami and be a part of this cool experience," said Florida center Anton Lundell, wearing a baby pink shirt and blue handkerchief to accent his all-white suit. “Obviously we still have the game left, but everything building up to this game has been awesome. It's been very unique and an experience we're all going to remember for the rest of our lives.”
Though nowhere near as chilly as Winter Classics of years past, temperatures in Miami hovered around 60 degrees Fahrenheit just an hour before puck drop, and lows were expected to be in the low 40s overnight.
For the Rangers, forward Will Cuylie said the plan was for a day-at-the-beach look, but bathing suits were a non-starter. Not professional enough, he added.
“We thought the all-white was a good solution for that,” he said.
Florida coach Paul Maurice arrived in what he jokingly deemed an “appropriate” mode of transportation.
“I was happily on the bus,” Maurice said ahead of Friday's game.
But on his ride into the arena, Maurice took in his surroundings: the palm tree monikers lining the outside of the ballpark and the thousands of fans clad in Rangers and Panthers gear. In past decades, it would have been hard to imagine such a scene in South Florida, where the success of the back-to-back defending champion Panthers has helped exponentially grow the popularity of hockey.
“I took about 10 minutes just to think about that idea,” Maurice said. "How much different the game was 30 years ago, 20 years ago that you’re in Miami, you've got your whole team getting in the Ferraris. I didn't really think there would be that many fans outside. It was like a version of our parade.
“It is an awesome spectacle. The game itself — not just in Florida — but the pure hockey game, for me, is better than it’s ever been.”
For Panthers general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito, the game — one that’s filled with “wonderment,” he said — represented a full-circle moment. His career path started in baseball, and on Friday, his team was playing on a baseball field.
Zito was a batboy for the Milwaukee Brewers in the early 1980s and still credits general manager Harry Dalton for what became the start of a career that saw him become an agent and then one of the top executives in the game.
“The lessons I learned from that experience impact me, and really then via me, our organization on a daily basis,” Zito said. “I’m not here today if I hadn’t had that good fortune.”
That said, his baseball ways were long ago. When he first arrived at loanDepot Park to see the setup, he asked where the locker rooms were. Baseball doesn’t use that term.
“I forgot,” Zito said. “It’s a clubhouse.”
AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
New York Rangers, including left wing Brett Berard, center, warm up with a soccer ball ahead of the start of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game at loanDepot Park, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Fans watch as Florida Panthers players arrive before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk arrives for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Fans watch as Florida Panthers players arrive before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling arrives for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New York Rangers Taylor Raddysh enjoys family skate time after practice for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
New York Rangers players gather for a team picture during practice for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
