The future of J.J. McCarthy with the Minnesota Vikings will only get cloudier if he ends up losing the QB competition to Kyler Murray. If the former Arizona Cardinals star ends up being the Vikings’ starter for Week 1, there will be plenty of speculation about the player’s future.
Last season with the Vikings, McCarthy posted a 61.8 overall PFF grade, while also having a 60.1 passing grade. Across 291 dropbacks, he threw for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Moreover, he logged 19 big-time throws and 15 turnover-worthy plays.
McCarthy also averaged 9.5 yards per attempt downfield and held the ball for 3.01 seconds on average. He also contributed as a runner, picking up 156 scramble yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Nonetheless, even if the 23-year-old ends up as the backup QB, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson doesn’t see the Vikings entertaining any calls for McCarthy, given Murray’s past health issues.
“It’s why I get it when I’m saying, like, OK, we question the future of J.J. McCarthy here, but until I hear otherwise, maybe they eventually do him a solid, but you’re not trading J.J. McCarthy,” Wolfson said on the April 16 edition of “The Purple Daily.”
“Twice in four years, KOC’s had to use three quarterbacks. So if it’s [Carson] Wentz and McCarthy [as the backup QBs], OK. How many seasons has he played every game? I mean, just semi-logic or full logic says [Murray is] not playing the entire season this year.”
Adam Thielen Gets Blunt About Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy
Ahead of the battle to determine the signal-caller for Week 1, McCarthy received an encouraging message from former Vikings wideout Adam Thielen.
“I just love his mindset,” Thielen said on the April 14 edition of the “Ross Tucker Football Podcast.” “You’re around him for a couple of days and you can feel it. I was able to work with him as a rookie during the offseason when he spent time in Minnesota, and we got the chance to throw and work together a bit.
“Then playing with him, you realize he’s just one of those guys. When you’re around him, you can tell he’s a winner. He understands that competitive edge, that chip on his shoulder, and he carries it with him.”
J.J. McCarthy Understands He Needs to Address Weaknesses
Moreover, Thielen notes that McCarthy knows what he needs to work on to improve and become an NFL starting QB, as he must address his weaknesses if he wants to be the guy who comes out on top in this competition to determine the Week 1 starter.
“He’ll be the first to admit there are areas where he needs to improve,“ Thielen added. “He’s a young player, and it’s not hard to understand the challenges he’s faced. Being drafted high comes with big expectations, and then getting injured in your first year makes it even tougher.
“When you’re on injured reserve, you’re not around the team in the same way. You’re not practicing, and you’re not getting reps on the field. That’s a lot of missed development time, so he’s had quite a few things working against him.”
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy Gets Blunt Statement on Potential Trade