Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will have one more chance to put together a solid performance in his first season as a starting quarterback, and it may go a long way toward determining how the team views him going forward.
McCarthy will start in Minnesota’s season finale against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. The Vikings have officially been eliminated from playoff contention, but the game is still an important one for McCarthy. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Kevin O’Connell and Minnesota’s coaching staff have not committed to sticking with McCarthy as their starting QB heading into the offseason.
Russini reported on Saturday that the Vikings are planning to explore the possibility of adding a veteran quarterback either via trade or free agency in the coming months. The team is committed to bringing McCarthy back in 2026, but the former Michigan star will likely have to compete for a starting job.
J.J. McCarthy has battled injuries
McCarthy has struggled through his first season as an NFL starter, and injuries have played a significant role in that. He missed Minnesota’s 23-10 win over the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day because of a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. He also dealt with an ankle sprain and a concussion earlier in the season.
In nine games this season, McCarthy has completed 57.3% of his passes for 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He led the Vikings to a dramatic comeback win over the Chicago Bears in Week 1, but there have not been many bright moments for him since then. Many people are convinced that O’Connell chose to “soft bench” McCarthy at certain points during the season and used the injuries an an excuse.
Vikings will not give up on J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings traded up to draft McCarthy 10th overall in 2024. They believed strongly then that he could become a franchise quarterback, so there is almost no chance they will give up on developing the 22-year-old. That said, they went 14-3 last season with Sam Darnold and have a chance to finish above .500 this year even with how poorly McCarthy has played.
It is fair to wonder whether Minnesota would have been better off keeping Darnold for at least another season or two and allowing McCarthy to soak up more knowledge in a backup role. In hindsight, it looks like McCarthy was not ready to be an NFL starter in 2025. He should be plenty motivated to end the year on a high note against Green Bay.