It's been a big week for J.J. McCarthy.

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback missed practice on Thursday to be with his fiancee for the birth of their first child, days after a thrilling comeback win in his first NFL start.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said the 22-year-old McCarthy was at the facility in the morning before departing for the hospital with his fiancée, Katya Kuropas. She made the announcement in May on Instagram that the couple was expecting a boy. They've been together since high school at Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago.

Kuropas announced the birth of their son, Rome Micah McCarthy, in an Instagram post on Friday.

Star receiver Justin Jefferson delivered a message to McCarthy at the end of his news conference on Thursday.

"If you seeing this now, congratulations, my boy," Jefferson said. "I'm excited for him with this new chapter and this new journey. But after you get done that, come on back."

O'Connell also had some advice for his QB.

"He started talking about some of the things he was going to say when he got in the car to take her to the hospital, and I did give him some pointers on maybe what to say and more importantly what not to say in those moments," O'Connell said. "Quarterback development, man."

McCarthy was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Vikings to a 27-24 comeback victory over the Bears in his NFL debut.

"We don't win this game unless J.J. plays the way he did in the second half," O'Connell said, "and most importantly kept the belief of his football team behind him."  

The Vikings host Atlanta on Sunday night.