The Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback picture is getting murkier by the day, and J.J. McCarthy may be the one feeling the squeeze.
On Tuesday, Minnesota was back in pads for the second time of training camp in 2026, and the quarterback competition remained the biggest storyline. Kyler Murray still looks like the clear favorite to be the Week 1 starter, but the more interesting fight now may be happening behind him.
McCarthy, drafted 10th overall in 2024, has appeared in 10 games and, by the source’s account, has not made enough of those starting opportunities count. That’s part of why Murray entered camp as the obvious choice to lead the offense, with his NFL resume - including two Pro Bowls - standing far above McCarthy’s.
After a pair of difficult practices on Monday and Tuesday, the idea that McCarthy might see the field in the regular season feels remote. The source even suggests the only way he takes a snap is if Murray is unavailable or somehow misses his way to U.S. Bank Stadium.
The real pressure point may be McCarthy’s standing on the depth chart. Beat reporter Matt Coller of Purple Insider was already asking Monday night whether McCarthy could even top Carson Wentz for the QB2 role out of camp. The next day, Wentz was the first quarterback out with the twos, according to Jason Harmon of Sleeper.
Coller was asked: “Do we think that Wentz is permanent number 2, in the sense that JJ [McCarthy] will be number 3, if Kyler Murray goes down?”
He answered: “That’s really up to J.J. [McCarthy]. I mean if J.J. continues to play in camp the exact same way he has for the first four days then there’s a good chance Carson Wentz will be the backup.”
The numbers behind the discussion only widen the gap. McCarthy owns a 6-4 career record as Minnesota’s starting quarterback, but he completed just 57.6% of his passes in 2025 and finished with an 11/12 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Murray’s career mark is far stronger: 67.1% completions and a 121/60 TD/INT ratio.
That’s why the Vikings were so eager to bring Murray in, and why McCarthy and Murray are not being viewed as equals at this stage.
Wentz, meanwhile, has emerged as the kind of backup Minnesota can trust if called upon. The source describes him as an ideal option for the Vikings if they don’t plan to start McCarthy on September 13 against the Green Bay Packers. In that scenario, McCarthy could be inactive on game days except in an emergency QB3 role.
There’s also the matter of what Wentz still offers. He’s no longer the quarterback who once guided the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl before Nick Foles took over, but he has enough left to matter. In five games last season, he completed 65.1% of his passes with a 6/5 TD/INT ratio while taking repeated punishment, a stretch that underscored both his toughness and his willingness to keep going.
If the Vikings really do choose Wentz over McCarthy on game days, that opens a bigger question about why McCarthy would be on the roster at all. For now, though, the preseason will have the next word later this month.
In Other News...
Kevin O'Connell Just Added New Tension To The J.J. McCarthy Debate
When the Vikings moved on from Kirk Cousins, the search for their next quarterback was always going to come with a little noise, and Kevin OConnell only added to it this week on a local radio appearance. The head coach talked about the organization wanting a young passer in place for the future, which fit the broad outline of what Minnesota was trying to do in 2024 as it sorted through its post-Cousins options.
The timing matters because Cris Carter had already stirred the pot by saying former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wanted J.J. McCarthy in that draft, while OConnell was supposedly pushing another direction. OConnell did not shut that down directly, and with McCarthy eventually landing in Minnesota after the team missed on its preferred quarterback path, the conversation around how that pick came together is not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Suddenly Have Options That Could Spark A Big Roster Debate
The Vikings have quietly put themselves in a much more flexible spot after the release of Jonathan Allen and the extension of Brian ONeill opened up more than $21 million in salary cap space. For a team still trying to sharpen its roster, that kind of room matters, and general manager Nolan Teasley has already made clear the front office is looking for ways to improve before the trade deadline.
The next question is where those dollars should go. Edge-rush depth is an obvious need, but there is also at least some buzz around a possible reunion with safety Harrison Smith, while the team could choose to keep resources available for a larger move later on. However it plays out, Minnesota suddenly has options, and that alone can make for a tough internal debate. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Camp Is Already Framing Two Key Offensive Battles
The Vikings have barely settled into camp, but the offense is already giving coaches a couple of decisions to sort through. Around the league, teams are using these early practices to firm up depth charts, with position tweaks, extensions and injury updates shaping the conversation, and Minnesota is no different as the focus turns to how the offense will look once the pads come on and the reps start to matter.
What makes this stretch important is that camp observations are starting to frame two battles that could influence how the Vikings attack the season. These are the kinds of competitions that often get clearer only after a few more practices and live looks, but for now the early signs are enough to make the next few weeks worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]