The Vikings’ quarterback picture is still the biggest thing hanging over the team this week, even with Kyler Murray already having won the battle and getting his work in at joint practices instead of playing Saturday.
That leaves JJ McCarthy front and center again. He logged plenty of reps in Eagan over the last couple of days, and Kevin O’Connell has already labeled him the Vikings’ backup quarterback over veteran Carson Wentz, at least for now. On Thursday, O’Connell also said McCarthy is expected to start against Baltimore in Saturday’s preseason game.
Kevin O’Connell made clear that J.J. MCCarthy is the Vikings’ No.
2 QB. But he said he wants the room to remain competitive and did not rule out further consideration.
- Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 19, 2026
That makes Saturday another major chance for McCarthy to show his coach he’s not the next Rob Dillingham.
The comparison came from an unexpected place this week. Chris Finch was on KFAN Radio with Paul Allen, and the Timberwolves coach - who is friends with O’Connell - drew a line between McCarthy’s situation and Rob Dillingham’s brief run with Minnesota.
PA: “In my opinion, your team and the one you watched Monday, the Vikings, you guys have had some similar off season traits. Uh and and I have some examples. Do do you see it that way, in any way?”
Finch: “I’ve never really thought about it, PA. So I’m interested to hear what you have to say.
But I do know that they have had a lot of volatility at the quarterback position, which I think Kevin [O’Connell has] done a remarkable job, and their full staff has done a remarkable job of navigating that. We know how important that position is.
You know, we’ve had similar issues around the point guard, as Mike Conley, who was incredible for us, but he just got to the end of his run. So you know, I’ve seen some parallels there, you know, and what you expect of a young point guard.
Like, what we expected of Rob Dillingham was probably too much, and unfair - given where we were, given where he was at the time, and what we needed and what he needed. Maybe there’s some parallels there to JJ, as he continues to try and find himself. But you know, larger than that, I haven’t given it much thought.”
92Noon (KFAN Radio)
Finch’s point was straightforward: both players were asked to handle more than they were ready for, mentally and otherwise, and that slowed their development. In Dillingham’s case, the Timberwolves were trying to win now, and he wasn’t in a spot to earn consistent minutes. Finch said the same kind of pressure could apply to McCarthy as he tries to settle in.
That’s where the intrigue comes from. McCarthy is still trying to hold onto the No. 2 spot, but the room is being kept competitive, and O’Connell hasn’t completely closed the door on more movement. Meanwhile, rumors around TCO Performance Center continue to swirl about whether Minnesota could eventually end up dealing its former first-round pick for less than that draft slot once carried.
The next two weeks matter a lot for McCarthy. If he stays QB2 heading into the regular season, he’s one Kyler Murray injury or one rough stretch away from being back on the field. If he slips further down the depth chart, Finch’s comparison starts to look a lot more pointed.
And in that scenario, it’s not hard to imagine the Vikings exploring a trade.
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