J.J. McCarthy’s time in Minnesota could be nearing an end.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter shed light on the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback conundrum on “Get Up” Tuesday morning. According to Schefter, Adam Thielen, a stalwart in the franchise, believes the starting quarterback position is Kyler Murray’s to secure, lending significant weight to Murray’s prospects.
“When Adam Thielen asserts that, it’s logical to conclude that Kyler Murray is the frontrunner for the role,” Schefter elaborated. “Assuming he maintains his current trajectory, the job is his unless we begin receiving reports from training camp that highlight J.J. McCarthy’s marked improvements, notable growth, and the coaches start praising his maturity and ability to rise to the occasion. Until then, it seems Murray will lead the charge.”
Thielen, while speaking on ESPN Monday night, acknowledged that although the job seems to be Murray’s at the moment, McCarthy shouldn’t be discounted just yet.
“If J.J. steps forward and addresses his previous shortcomings, he still stands a chance,” Thielen remarked. “The team invested a first-round pick in him with the hope of his success. Should he prove himself capable, the starting position could indeed become his.”
Former Broncos corner Domonique Foxworth also said if Kyler Murray plays well this season, “then it’s over for J.J. McCarthy there”
Before training camp Tuesday, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was asked about the team’s quarterback competition, and said both quarterbacks will have the chance to prove themselves.
“Both Kyler and J.J. will take reps with the first team,” O’Connell told reporters. “They’ll also take reps with the second group, and I think that gives different layers to the evaluation as well.”
Even if O’Connell won’t admit it, it makes sense why Murray may have the upper hand in the competition.
Though Murray was never a spectacular quarterback over his seven years with the Cardinals, he was rarely a liability and at minimum provided value as a runner.
Across seven years in Arizona, Murray threw 121 touchdowns and ran for 32 more while helping guide the Cardinals to the playoffs in 2021.
McCarthy missed all of 2024 with a knee injury and was a mixed bag his first season starting in 2025, tossing 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
But he was 6-4 as a starter and the Vikings were 9-8 overall when his season ended because of a hairline fracture in his hand after a January win over the Packers.