J.J. McCarthy won’t be starting at quarterback for the Vikings in Week 1 of the regular season, but he will probably be starting their second preseason game.
The Vikings are wrapping up a second day of joint practices with the Ravens on Thursday and head coach Kevin O’Connell said that Kyler Murray will be among the starters who sit out Saturday’s home game as a result. O’Connell said that McCarthy is “more than likely” going to get the call to open the game in Murray’s place.
O’Connell named Murray the team’s starter over a week ago and said this week that McCarthy is currently No. 2 on the depth chart, but added that he wants “those guys feeling like they’re competing.” Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer are the other backup options on the roster in Minnesota.
This isn’t where most people thought McCarthy would be after the Vikings traded up to take him in the first round of the 2024 draft, but the path for him to wind up as the starter for the Vikings at any point is to keep turning in solid work and bide his time until injury or ineffectiveness offers him another chance to prove himself in meaningful games.
