The Minnesota Vikings head into their final preseason game Friday night against the Denver Broncos with more questions than answers about third-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Michigan, finds his future with the club increasingly uncertain as roster cutdown day approaches. Rosters must be trimmed to 53 players by the end of the month, and recent developments have fueled speculation about whether the young signal-caller will still be in purple when the regular season begins.
NBC Sports insider Mike Florio recently raised the possibility that McCarthy might not survive the final cuts. That suggestion came amid reports that McCarthy has been sharing second-team practice snaps with veteran Carson Wentz rather than locking down the backup role behind new starter Kyler Murray.
Local radio host Phil Mackey addressed the situation on the Aug. 26 edition of “Purple Daily.” He urged the Vikings’ front office and coaching staff to be absolutely certain before moving on from the former first-round selection.
“Are you sure he’s a bust?” Mackey said. “Because a lot of people are convinced that J.J. McCarthy is a dud. He’s a bust. Are people not even slightly worried about the Vikings potentially bailing on him before the season?
“That’s my only question: Are you not a little worried that this whole process is going to come back to bite the Vikings and look really bad in like two years?”
Mackey pointed to flashes McCarthy showed during the 2025 season, when he made 10 starts and threw for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while adding 181 rushing yards and four scores on the ground. Those numbers produced a 72.6 passer rating and a 6-4 record as a starter.
“You saw the fourth quarter against Chicago, the throws at Detroit to dagger the Lions,” Mackey said. “I know Dallas and Washington didn’t have the best defenses, but they scored 65 points in those two games.
“With McCarthy, aren’t you a little bit worried that everyone’s just punting on this 23-year-old because this franchise is always so perpetually stuck in the now versus maybe the big picture and the development?
“I get why they’re doing it if it keeps heading in this direction, but I would just say don’t be shocked if, in like two years, in a different environment, this dude taps into a lot of the good stuff that we did see from him last year.”
McCarthy missed Wednesday’s practice with a mild deltoid sprain in his ankle, an injury suffered during Saturday’s preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens. In that game he completed 5 of 10 passes for 81 yards before exiting after the first quarter. Coach Kevin O’Connell said the team remains hopeful McCarthy can start Friday’s contest in Denver.
The competition with Wentz has intensified. Once viewed as the clear No. 2 behind Murray, McCarthy is now splitting those second-team repetitions. Wentz, a veteran with more than 100 career starts, has looked steady in limited action and offers a higher floor if Murray misses time given his own injury history.
Fellow “Purple Daily” host Judd Zulgad expressed doubt that McCarthy’s development will continue in Minnesota even if he remains on the roster.
“I think the issue is we’re never going to find out with McCarthy and Purple. There is clearly a ton going on behind the scenes that we don’t know. It feels like friction. Something feels off… I don’t think they keep him here and then it just slow cooks and everybody sings Kumbaya, and now J.J. McCarthy’s 28 years old and, oh my God, he’s great here,” Zulgad said.
“It just feels like the fit was really bad, and I don’t know if that can be blamed on Kevin O’Connell, on J.J. McCarthy or on a combination of people. But it just doesn’t, and I feel like you were at enough practices, too. There is just a vibe that came from the entire situation that felt like oil and water.”
McCarthy has dealt with injuries throughout his short career. A torn meniscus wiped out his entire rookie season.
Last year a high-ankle sprain cost him five games, and a late-season hand injury further limited him. He has started only 10 NFL games despite being the highest-drafted quarterback in franchise history.
O’Connell has emphasized giving all the quarterbacks opportunities in the final preseason game, including Max Brosmer. The coach has indicated the team will gain more clarity on the depth chart in the coming weeks.
For a player still just 23 years old and under contract control through 2028, the current situation represents a significant crossroads. McCarthy has insisted he wants to remain in Minnesota, but the combination of inconsistent performances, the arrival of Murray, Wentz’s competition, and the looming roster deadline has created genuine uncertainty.
Whether Friday’s game in Denver offers a final showcase or simply more of the same will help determine the next chapter. For now, the Vikings must decide if they still believe in the upside that prompted them to draft McCarthy so highly or whether it is time to move in a different direction.
