13-play stint caps emotional day for J.J. McCarthy's long-awaited return - ESPN

MINNEAPOLIS — Before going to bed Friday night, J.J. McCarthy felt his emotions bubble up. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback was set to play in his first game in 364 days, and he said it was impossible to think of it as another day of summer football.

«It was just the journey that any injured player goes on to be back out there and doing the thing that they love,» McCarthy said after the Vikings' 20-10 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday.

«It just shows how much I care for this game.»

McCarthy said there was «a little teardrop» during the national anthem at U.S. Bank Stadium before he took the field for a 13-play stint that cemented his return from a torn meniscus in his right knee that ended his rookie season.

He completed his first three passes, all to wide receiver Jordan Addison, and led the Vikings to a field goal on their opening drive before coach Kevin O'Connell pulled him from the lineup. McCarthy finished with four completions in seven attempts for 30 yards while also converting a fourth down with an 8-yard run.

«I love the fact that we were able to hit an explosive play in the pass game,» O'Connell said of an 18-yard pass McCarthy threw on an out cut to Addison. «I love the fact that we converted some third downs. I love the fact that on the fourth down, he used his legs to 'steal one.'

»And I think there's just a level of composure and poise to how he ran the show. That was exactly what I was looking for — and now we go back to work."

O'Connell said he took McCarthy out after the first series primarily because he didn't want to play the rest of his starters much further. The Vikings started four of the five offensive linemen they are expected to use in the regular season, along with Addison and tight