J.J. McCarthy got the first crack at preseason Week 2, and the results were a little bit of everything for the Vikings.
Minnesota held out most of its starters against Baltimore, which put McCarthy in line to open the game. He played one quarter and finished 5-for-10 for 81 yards, with all three of his drives ending without points. The last one stalled quickly and ended in a three-and-out.
There were flashes, though. McCarthy showed off the arm strength on a 50-yard strike to Tai Felton on the second drive, and that march took Minnesota all the way down the field.
The problem came when the Vikings got into the red zone. McCarthy missed Felton and Myles Price on two throws that had touchdown potential, and the possession ended with the Vikings turning it over on downs.
His final series had a little more movement, including a 19-yard gain to Jeshaun Jones. McCarthy delivered the throw while taking a hit from a Ravens defender, but the play was wiped out by holding.
The bigger picture is that McCarthy spent the quarter under pressure. The backup offensive line didn’t give him much help, and he was hit far too often.
Even so, the accuracy issues were real enough to keep this from being a clean showing. The result: a C+ grade.
The backup quarterback race still isn’t settled, either. Kevin O’Connell has not named McCarthy the QB2 behind Kyler Murray, and Carson Wentz remains very much in the mix. Wentz played the second quarter and made the most of the same backup line, going 9-for-11 for 92 yards and leading Minnesota to a field goal.
Max Brosmer handled the second half, and by the time the game moved on, McCarthy and Wentz were both done for the day.
Wentz had the better performance in this one, but it may not have been enough to jump McCarthy. At least for now, McCarthy still looks like the favorite. But if he doesn’t practice well this week and sharpen up in a game setting, the Vikings could push him down to QB3.
In Other News...
Vikings Still Have A Backup QB Problem After J.J. McCarthy Exit
J.J. McCarthys preseason debut for Minnesota was supposed to be a longer audition, but it ended early against the Baltimore Ravens after an undisclosed injury forced him out of the game. Before leaving, he had completed 5 of 10 passes for 81 yards, and Kevin OConnell said McCarthy was slated to play more before the injury limited his night. McCarthy has described the issue as minor and not something he expects to affect his availability.
Even so, the Vikings are still sorting through their quarterback depth chart, and McCarthys brief appearance only adds another layer to a competition that remains unsettled. With Kyler Murray entrenched as the starter, the backup spot is still very much open, and Minnesota now has to balance McCarthys recovery with whatever evaluation time remains in the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vikings Coach Is Creating A Concern Minnesota Knows Too Well
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For Minnesota, that kind of development brings back a familiar concern. The Vikings know how much a coach can shape the trenches, and Kuper now has a chance to prove himself in a new setting while his old team watches another familiar face try to build a line into a strength. The real answer will come with time, but Philadelphias early returns at least suggest the transition is off to a promising start. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Offense Is Giving Fans A Debate They Did Not Want
Two preseason games in, the Vikings have already given their fans an uncomfortable conversation to have. The first loss came with the offense looking out of sync across the board, as young quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer both struggled to find much traction, while the running game has not offered much relief either.
There has even been unease in 7-on-7 work with Kyler Murray, adding another layer to an offense that has not yet settled into a rhythm. Minnesotas ground attack is averaging less than four yards per carry with no touchdowns through two games, and for a team trying to sort out its identity before the games count, the questions are piling up faster than the answers. [Read more 🡒]