J.J. McCarthy’s day against the Baltimore Ravens started with a spark and ended with a lot more frustration than anyone in Minnesota wanted to see.
The Vikings quarterback did flash the kind of arm talent that can turn heads in a hurry. His biggest moment came on a 50-yard connection with wide receiver Tai Felton, the sort of throw that briefly makes the whole sideline sit up. But that was the high point, not the beginning of a steady rhythm.
McCarthy finished 5 of 10 for 81 yards in Saturday’s preseason game, and the rest of the stat line told a rougher story. He missed Myles Price on the sideline on the opening snap of the game, then later failed to hit Price again on what looked like a simple throw near the end zone. Those were the kinds of misses that stall momentum fast.
The Ravens also made life uncomfortable for him physically. McCarthy was sacked once and took a few more hits, which is never an ideal way to spend preseason snaps.
Afterward, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was asked about McCarthy’s outing and leaned into the positive, pointing to the Felton play while stumbling a bit through the explanation. His assessment centered on the quarterback’s movement and the chance he gave his receiver, saying it was a "really nice job climbing and, and giving Tai a chance."
Carson Wentz handled the second half for Minnesota and could be in position to serve as the direct backup to Kyler Murray, though it remains too early to draw that line with any certainty.
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Ravens Rookie Receivers Just Faced A Real Test In This WR Battle
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Lane was on the field for 17 offensive snaps and finished with one catch, while Sarratt played six snaps and also came away with one reception. For a pair of rookies in a crowded evaluation period, the lack of production was a reminder that opportunities are still limited, but Baltimore has seen enough from both to keep them in the conversation as potential contributors when the chances become more consistent. [Read more 🡒]