JJ McCarthy Faces Tough Competition in Minnesota
It seems like JJ McCarthy’s time with the Vikings could be running out.
On Tuesday’s “Get Up,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter talked about the Vikings’ quarterback situation. He noted that if franchise legend Adam Thielen suggests that Kyler Murray is likely to become the starter, it’s probably a significant indication.
“When Thielen says something like that, you have to think it’s Kyler Murray’s job to lose,” Schefter remarked. “It’s going to be tough for JJ McCarthy unless we start hearing reports about how well he’s doing in training camp. Until then, it looks like Murray is in the lead.”
Thielen mentioned in an appearance on ESPN that while it’s currently Murray’s job to lose, there’s still room for McCarthy to make his case.
“If JJ can come in and demonstrate what went wrong last year… they drafted him in the first round for a reason. They want him to succeed, so if he shows that potential, he can certainly win the job,” Thielen said.
Meanwhile, former Broncos cornerback Domonique Foxworth chimed in, adding that if Kyler performs well this season, it could signal the end for McCarthy.
Before training camp kicked off, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell discussed the quarterback competition, stating that both players would get a chance to show what they can do.
“Kyler and JJ will both take reps with the first team,” O’Connell told reporters. “They’ll also handle the second group, which adds another layer to the evaluation process.”
Even if O’Connell doesn’t say it outright, it’s clear why Murray might hold an advantage.
Murray, while not exceptional during his seven years with the Cardinals, was rarely a significant liability and brought a bit of value with his running.
In his time with Arizona, he threw for 121 touchdowns and ran for another 32, leading the Cardinals to a playoff appearance in 2021.
On the opposite end, McCarthy had a rough start. He missed all of 2024 due to a knee injury and didn’t set the world on fire in 2025, throwing 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
However, he did manage to end the season with a 6-4 record as a starter, contributing to a 9-8 overall finish for the Vikings despite suffering a hairline fracture in his hand after a win against the Packers in January.
