ST. PAUL — J.J. McCarthy will play his first meaningful snaps of football in 20 months when he steps under center for the Vikings on Monday .

Between his national championship victory and his NFL debut in Chicago was a major knee injury and subsequent recovery that resulted in, effectively, a season off from football.

A logical observer would expect maybe some clunkiness and rust out of the gates. Never mind the extended time off — nerves also could very well factor in for a 22-year-old playing on the road on Monday Night Football with the nation watching.

And yet, Minnesota can’t afford any of that.

The Vikings’ early-season schedule ahead of their Week 6 bye looks like a soft runway from which their young quarterback can ascend. Of their first five opponents, only Pittsburgh made

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