Little has gone right for quarterback JJ McCarthy since he entered the NFL as the No. 10 pick of the Minnesota Vikings two years ago, and that unfortunate trend continued on Saturday in the team’s second preseason game of the summer.
Not only did McCarthy — now the QB2 in Minnesota and in danger of falling to third-string status — struggle against the Baltimore Ravens, he might have also suffered yet another injury.
“Along the way, McCarthy was sacked once and hit multiple times,” Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported on August 22. “The Ravens broadcast indicated that he was ‘wincing’ on the sidelines after his final drive.”
McCarthy also received attention from team doctors on the sidelines after exiting the contest.
“JJ McCarthy is getting absolutely obliterated back there. Not easy to watch,” Alec Lewis of The Athletic reported via X. “Trainers just came over to him on the sideline after that third down attempt to Myles Price.”
Head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke to McCarthy’s condition following the game.
“Kevin O’Connell said J.J. McCarthy got a little banged up in the first quarter. Took a number of hits behind the 2nd O-line,” Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported. “Vikings had planned to use him a little longer but decided to end his day ahead of the first possession of the second quarter.”
O’Connell did not specify McCarthy’s particular ailment, but the QB missed his entire rookie campaign due to a knee injury. He then sat out seven games with injuries last season that included a high-ankle sprain, a concussion and a hairline fracture in his throwing hand.
Carson Wentz Threatening to Take Vikings’ Backup QB Job Away From JJ McCarthy
GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz.
McCarthy completed 5-of-10 passes on the afternoon Saturday for 81 yards. Through two preseason games, the 23-year-old signal-caller is 9-of-17 for 115 yards and two sacks. He has yet to throw a TD pass.
Meanwhile, Carson Wentz has been considerably better this summer. His total statistics include 18-of-25 passing for 173 yards and a touchdown.
O’Connell noted last week that Wentz is still in the mix for the QB2 spot ahead of the regular season, which he likely moved closer to securing after how McCarthy played Saturday against the Ravens.
“I want those guys feeling like they’re competing. The philosophy around making our quarterback room competitive … that’s what we want throughout that quarterback room,” O’Connell told reporters. “We’ll see how these next couple weeks play out, and we’re gonna do what’s best for our team.”
Injuries May Decide Vikings’ QB Order Behind Kyler Murray
GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray.
Minnesota wasted little time naming Kyler Murray the starter, doing so before even one preseason snap had been played.
Murray will remain QB1 assuming his health holds up. He did not play against Baltimore over the weekend.
If McCarthy is hurt, and if that injury lingers, perhaps circumstances will make the decision on the backup quarterback for Week 1 for the team.
If not, Minnesota’s final contest of the preseason against the Denver Broncos on Friday, August 28 could have major implications for the QB hierarchy entering the regular season.
Vikings QB JJ McCarthy May Have Suffered New Injury: Report