The Minnesota Vikings fell to the Baltimore Ravens 13-3 in their second preseason game on Aug. 22 at U.S. Bank Stadium. J.J. McCarthy played the first quarter, and much of the focus from this game is on the third-year quarterback’s performance.
During his time on the field, McCarthy went 5-for-10 on his pass attempts for 81 yards, and he was asked once. Meanwhile, Carson Wentz took over for McCarthy afterward, and the veteran signal-caller went 9-for-11 for 92 passing yards and was sacked twice.
Although it appears that McCarthy is QB2, Judd Zulgad of “Purple Daily” doesn’t believe that’s the case. After the loss to the Ravens, Zulgad issued a prediction, stating that he expects Wentz to be the Vikings’ backup behind Kyler Murray.
“In my opinion, today solidified even more that Carson Wentz, Sept. 13 against the Packers, will be QB2 behind Murray,“ Zulgad said in an Aug. 22 video. “Here’s why: J.J. McCarthy’s inconsistency just continues to be a huge problem. His second series was a perfect example of that.
“Fifty-yard completion to Tai Felton at the Ravens’ 10, gorgeous play. Tai Felton skies for the ball and continues to be impressive. So, first-and-10 at the Ravens’ 10, checkdown to Demond Claiborne for seven yards. Then, within the next three plays, because the Vikings lost the ball on downs, J.J. McCarthy sailed a pass, a fastball, to Tai Felton in the back of the end zone.
“On the next one, Myles Price comes wide open in the front corner of the end zone, and McCarthy, instead of just getting the ball to Myles Price with a nice little loft, throws another fastball too high for Price, and that’s all she wrote as the Vikings turned the ball over.”
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy Continues to Have Major Issue
Furthermore, Zulgad pointed out one major issue that he has with McCarthy that continues to plague the third-year QB.
“McCarthy takes too long with the football, and a lot of times that becomes a problem because that’s why he gets hit,“ Zulgad added. “But in short, I’m not saying Carson Wentz is great.
“I’m just saying that if he has to play, if Kyler Murray goes out, and that’s certainly a possibility given Murray’s history, Wentz is probably going to give you much more of a baseline and you know what you’re going to get. With J.J. McCarthy, it remains a guessing game, and that’s a problem. That’s why I think he’ll start the season as QB3 in Minnesota.”
J.J. McCarthy on Failed Red Zone Attempt Against the Ravens
After the game, the former first-round pick addressed the plays Zulgad mentioned as Minnesota couldn’t come away with a touchdown during McCarthy’s time out on the field.
“Those are just throws I gotta make,“ McCarthy told reporters. “Called great plays. At the end of the day, I know I can make those throws. It was great to have that experience, and that data logged in, to be able to make that throw next time…
“I wouldn’t say I felt sped up. It’s just, sometimes you hit ’em, sometimes you miss. It’s just one of those things, what preseason’s all about. You get it out now and log that feeling, like I said, make sure you hit it next time.”
J.J. McCarthy Gets Concerning Prediction After Vikings Loss