J.J. McCarthy
Quarterback #9
J.J. McCarthy News
Vikings Expect J.J. McCarthy to be on the Week 1 Roster
Minnesota Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley said on Wednesday that he expects quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle), who has practiced in full the last two days, to be on the Week 1 roster, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. However, Teasley would not discuss whether McCarthy would be the backup to starter Kyler Murray over veteran Carson Wentz. The 23-year-old former 10th overall pick from Michigan in 2024 injured his ankle in the second preseason game and then was held out of the preseason finale, leading to speculation that the Vikings might cut McCarthy altogether if they could not find a trade partner for him. Not only will he be on the Week 1 roster, but McCarthy could still win the backup job now that he appears to be recovered from his ankle injury. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after having knee surgery, and he flopped as the full-time starter in 2025, throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in only 10 games while dealing with multiple injuries. His dynasty/keeper stock is at an all-time low going into the start of the 2026 season.
Sep 2, 2026 10:15 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Facing Multi-Week Absence With Ankle Injury
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is expected to miss multiple weeks, according to Adam Schefter. McCarthy suffered the injury during Minnesota's Aug. 22 preseason game against Baltimore and was unable to recover in time for Friday's finale against Denver. The Vikings had hoped to give him the entire first half in that game, but Carson Wentz started instead. Minnesota initially considered McCarthy day-to-day, making Schefter's new timetable a notable change. The 2024 first-round pick still made the Vikings' initial 53-man roster alongside Kyler Murray, Wentz and Max Brosmer. Murray was already named the starter earlier this month, so McCarthy's absence does not change Minnesota's QB1 situation. McCarthy started 10 games last season, throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while adding 181 rushing yards and four scores. His injury does leave Wentz and Brosmer as Minnesota's healthy options behind Murray for the opening weeks.
Aug 31, 2026 9:56 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Makes the Vikings' 53-Man Roster
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) made the team's initial 53-man roster, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. There had been plenty of speculation that McCarthy could be traded or released, but he ultimately remains with the Vikings for now. With that said, we can't rule out the possibility of him being moved at a later date. Minnesota has four quarterbacks on its roster, which probably isn't sustainable for a long time. Kyler Murray has already been named the Week 1 starter, and the Vikings presumably would have released Carson Wentz or Max Brosmer if they didn't envision them having any sort of role. That leaves McCarthy as the odd man out. It feels a bit bizarre to talk about cutting bait on a first-round pick after just one year of NFL action, but it was a pretty brutal stretch. He missed all of 2024 due to injury, and across 10 games last year, he completed just 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. A fresh start might be the only way for McCarthy to salvage his NFL career, but until that happens, he can be avoided in all fantasy football leagues.
Aug 30, 2026 6:45 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Projected to be Left Off 53-Man Roster
The Athletic's Alec Lewis is projecting Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) to lose out on the QB2 job to veteran Carson Wentz and to be left off the initial 53-man roster to begin the 2026 season. McCarthy struggled in last week's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, came out of it with a minor ankle injury, and was held out of the preseason finale on Friday against the Denver Broncos. Wentz made the start on Friday and appears to be in line to be the Vikings' backup behind starter Kyler Murray. McCarthy's "comfort (or lack thereof) with being the QB3 could dictate his future in Minnesota," Lewis writes. Max Brosmer's future with the organization is also in doubt after a poor preseason performance. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick from Michigan in 2024, missed his entire rookie campaign after having surgery to fix the meniscus in his knee. In his first go as a starter in the NFL last year, McCarthy flopped, playing in only 10 games due to injuries and throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. A trade out of town at this point might be the best thing for McCarthy's long-term fantasy value in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Aug 29, 2026 8:45 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Not Playing in Preseason Finale Against Denver
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) will not play in the team's preseason finale on Friday night against the hosting Denver Broncos, multiple sources told Alec Lewis of The Athletic. The Vikings had hoped that McCarthy's ankle would be healed ahead of the game, but he ultimately was not comfortable enough to suit up. The good news is that his injury is considered minor, and he is day-to-day. McCarthy picked up the ankle injury in last weekend's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, in which he struggled in the face of pressure. The Vikings already named Kyler Murray as their Week 1 starter, with McCarthy now battling veteran Carson Wentz for QB2 duties to open his third year in the NFL. If the 23-year-old cannot beat out Wentz, he could be a trade candidate before the regular-season opener. The former 10th overall pick in 2024 from Michigan missed all of his rookie year after having knee surgery, and he completed just 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in just 10 games last year due to injuries. Early in his career, McCarthy has not looked like a viable NFL starter, cratering his fantasy value in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Aug 28, 2026 2:47 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Among Other Quarterbacks Gaining Interest on Trade Market?
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is among the quarterbacks who "could be on the move in the next few weeks," according to Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado. Allbright reports that McCarthy, Tua Tagovailoa, Dillon Gabriel, and Anthony Richardson Sr. are signal-callers who "have had calls placed on them to varying degrees of interest." The 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury and then struggled in his first chance to be a starter in 2025. Across 10 games last season, the 23-year-old completed 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Vikings signed veteran quarterback Kyler Murray over the offseason, and Murray will enter 2026 as the team's QB1. McCarthy may not even be the favorite to be Minnesota's backup, as the team also rosters veteran quarterback Carson Wentz. It's not clear that there is a team around the league that views McCarthy as an immediate starting option, but at this point, his dynasty value would likely be better served by a change of scenery.
Aug 27, 2026 12:29 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Getting a Day Off While Nursing Ankle Injury
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is getting a day off from training camp practice on Wednesday for an ankle injury that he suffered in last Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. The Vikings are hoping to have McCarthy start their preseason finale on Friday in Denver against the Broncos as he continues to compete with veteran Carson Wentz for the QB2 job behind starter Kyler Murray. The 23-year-old McCarthy's ankle injury obviously is not serious, but his fantasy stock in dynasty/keeper leagues has never been lower after he lost the starting QB battle to Murray. If McCarthy loses the backup job to Wentz, he will become a prime trade candidate before the start of the 2026 season. The former 10th overall pick from Michigan missed his entire rookie season in 2024 due to knee surgery and then played in only 10 games in 2025 while completing 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions for the Vikes.
Aug 26, 2026 10:34 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Splitting Second-Team Reps
In a relatively short Minnesota Vikings training camp practice on Tuesday, quarterback J.J. McCarthy and veteran Carson Wentz split second-team reps, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. McCarthy's dynasty/keeper stock continues to plummet after the Vikings recently announced what most of us already expected: that Kyler Murray had won the starting QB job entering the 2026 season. The 23-year-old former 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft from Michigan missed his entire rookie campaign due to a meniscus injury in his knee that required surgery, and when he finally got his chance last year, he flopped due to injuries, accuracy issues, and questionable decision-making. McCarthy completed 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his first 10 starts for the Vikings. If he loses out on the QB2 competition to Wentz, McCarthy could become a trade candidate before the start of the 2026 campaign. If he stays with the Vikes, it might take another injury to Murray for McCarthy to get another shot at starting this year.
Aug 25, 2026 3:29 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Banged Up After Saturday's Preseason Game
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy would have played longer in Saturday's preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens if he had not gotten "banged up" during a rough first quarter, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. McCarthy only played 18 offensive snaps over four series in the first quarter and struggled with his accuracy while taking three hits and a sack. O'Connell was hoping to send McCarthy out for at least one more possession. The Vikings have not revealed a specific injury, but it is notable after several injury-plagued seasons in Minnesota to begin his NFL career after he was taken 10th overall out of Michigan in 2024. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus in his right knee and missed seven games in 2025 with a high right-ankle sprain and a concussion. He also missed time with a hairline fracture in his right hand. He finished 5-for-10 passing for 81 yards against Baltimore on Saturday. While McCarthy might be banged up, it is unlikely that he will not be ready for the start of the regular season in several weeks as the QB2 behind Kyler Murray.
Aug 23, 2026 7:32 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Erratic In Preseason Loss
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy turned in an uneven preseason game Saturday against Baltimore, finishing 5-for-10 for 81 yards. Playing with the second-string offense, the 23-year-old QB continued his unusual pattern of connecting on difficult throws and missing easier ones. On the Vikings' second drive, he alertly climbed the pocket and fired a 50-yard strike to Tai Felton, then wisely checked down to Demond Claiborne on the next play to put the Vikings at the Baltimore 3-yard line. However, the drive ended with no points when he missed back-to-back receivers in the end zone, including an open Myles Price on fourth down. More concerning to Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was that McCarthy took a few shots, including a sack where a defender hit McCarthy below the knees, prompting Minnesota to insert Carson Wentz before the end of the first half. The Vikings already named Kyler Murray their starter, so McCarthy's fantasy value will be limited as long as the former is healthy.
Aug 23, 2026 4:53 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Likely to Start Saturday Against Ravens
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will more than likely start Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Kevin Seifert. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Kyler Murray and many of Minnesota's other starters are unlikely to play after getting two days of work against Baltimore in joint practices this week. That should mean a longer look at McCarthy. He took over after Murray's opening series in the preseason opener against the Giants and completed 4 of 7 passes for 34 yards while playing the rest of the first half. McCarthy is currently Minnesota's No. 2 quarterback, and Saturday should give him plenty of snaps to keep working in that role. With most of the first-team offense expected to sit, the focus will be on how McCarthy handles a larger chunk of the game against Baltimore.
Aug 20, 2026 9:06 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Holds Vikings' No. 2 Quarterback Job for Now
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy remains the team's No. 2 for now, according to Kevin Seifert. Head coach Kevin O'Connell made McCarthy's standing clear Wednesday, though he also said he wants the quarterback room to stay competitive and did not completely rule out revisiting things. McCarthy worked with the second-team offense in Saturday's preseason opener against the Giants, completing 4 of 7 passes for 34 yards. He started 10 games last season and finished with 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while adding four more scores on the ground. The Vikings still want competition behind their starter, but McCarthy is the one holding the backup job at the moment. That keeps him on the radar in dynasty and Superflex formats, though his immediate path to playing time remains limited.
Aug 19, 2026 10:46 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Not Assured of Backup Quarterback Role in Minnesota?
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy entered training camp competing for his team's QB1 role, but the Vikings have already announced that veteran Kyler Murray will be the team's Week 1 starter. While Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that McCarthy would be the team's backup when he named Murray the starter, Minnesota also currently rosters veteran signal-caller Carson Wentz. Alec Lewis of The Athletic speculates that Wentz "could give O'Connell some pause" after his steady performance in the Vikings' first preseason game on Saturday. Wentz threw for 1,216 yards and six touchdowns across five starts for the Vikings last season. He also has 103 games (99 starts) under his belt across 10 NFL seasons, while McCarthy has played in just 10 games since being drafted in the first round in 2024. At this point, McCarthy's dynasty value would likely be best served by a chance in scenery.
Aug 18, 2026 5:44 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Wants to Stay in Minnesota After Losing QB Competition
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy said losing the QB competition to Kyler Murray was "out of my control" and that he wants to stay with the organization, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. With veteran signal-caller Carson Wentz also on the roster, a trade could become a possibility. "This is the place I want to be," McCarthy said. "And I love every single person in this building. I love the state. I love the fanbase. And I'm going to continue to just do whatever I can for this team and this organization." The Vikings drafted McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Michigan. He missed his entire rookie season after having knee surgery, and he started only 10 games last year while dealing with injuries. Murray was the heavy favorite to win the QB job in Minnesota this year after McCarthy threw 11 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions last season. If Murray stays healthy and rebounds in the Vikings' offense, McCarthy's best path back to fantasy relevance might be a trade out of town.
Aug 12, 2026 5:08 PM EST
Kevin O'Connell Says he Believes J.J. McCarthy has a "Future With the Organization"
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy lost out to Kyler Murray in the battle for the starting job in training camp this summer, but head coach Kevin O'Connell said he believes McCarthy "has a future with the organization," according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. The 23-year-old former 10th overall pick from the University of Michigan missed his entire rookie season in 2024 after having knee surgery, and he struggled mightily in just 10 games started last year in his first season in the starting role, completing 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His struggles prompted the Vikes to sign Murray to a one-year deal in free agency in the offseason. Minnesota officially named Murray as their QB1 on Tuesday. For now, McCarthy will sit and learn behind Murray, but his next opportunity could come sooner rather than later if Murray's injury issues from a year ago resurface. For now, though, McCarthy is undraftable in redraft leagues, and his fantasy stock in dynasty/keeper formats has reached a new low.
Aug 11, 2026 11:29 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy is Looking Good During Sunday's Practice
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is off to a hot start during Sunday's practice. According to Will Ragatz, McCarthy is looking strong and made an impressive throw to Myles Price to the left side during 7-on-7 drills. It seems like the Vikings are committed to having McCarthy and Kyler Murray compete for the starting gig in training camp. Over the last week, McCarthy was doing more work as the No. 2 quarterback, but his strong play on Sunday could help his argument to become the starter. The Vikings obviously want to wait and see how the quarterbacks do in preseason game action before they make a final decision. Murray remains the favorite to start with McCarthy still needing some time to develop.
Aug 9, 2026 5:47 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Seeing More Time With No. 2 Offense
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray split snaps with the first-team offense evenly through the first seven practices of training camp during their competition. However, McCarthy has now spent a "significant portion" of camp working with the No. 2 offense against the No. 1 defense, and beneath the surface, there have been "plenty of indications that Murray remains the heavy favorite to win the job," according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. Both signal-callers have had their up-and-down moments, but the Vikings have given Murray around two-thirds of the snaps with the first-team offense in 11-on-11 drills. Unless the usage reverses in the coming week, Seifert thinks it's hard to imagine McCarthy winning the job while mostly working with the second team. McCarthy's passes have mostly been in the short and intermediate range, with less frequent deep attempts than Murray. The Vikings still want to develop McCarthy after his rough go as the starter in 2025, but now that Murray is in town, they don't have to rush it. Nothing is official yet, but it would be a surprise for McCarthy to be named Minnesota's Week 1 starter under center at this point.
Aug 7, 2026 8:21 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Carries Dynasty Buy-Low Appeal into 2026
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggled in his first chance to be an NFL starter in 2025. McCarthy missed seven games due to ankle, concussion, and hand issues and finished the year with 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Minnesota brought in some significant competition for McCarthy in free agency, signing veteran quarterback Kyler Murray. Given Murray's established track record from his time with the Arizona Cardinals, it wouldn't be a surprise if McCarthy is limited to QB2 duties in 2026. However, the Vikings reportedly plan to allow the battle between Murray and McCarthy to run through training camp and the preseason. McCarthy is just 23 years old, and Minnesota could still view him as a key piece of the team's future. McCarthy also brings some fantasy juice with his legs, as he rushed for 181 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games last season. With his value at a low point, McCarthy could be a worthy buy-low candidate for dynasty managers.
Jul 22, 2026 9:12 AM EST
Is J.J. McCarthy Worthy of Buy-Low Candidacy in Dynasty Leagues?
After missing his entire rookie season in 2024 with a knee injury, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was handed his team's starting job entering 2025. The 23-year-old missed seven games with ankle, hand, and concussion issues, and he was highly ineffective when healthy. Across his 10 starts, McCarthy completed 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. McCarthy is still very young, and he carries some dual-threat potential for fantasy managers after rushing for 181 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. He enters 2026 in a battle with veteran quarterback Kyler Murray for the Vikings QB1 role. While Minnesota has not named a starter, Murray is the presumptive favorite. Still, Murray has been highly injury-prone in his career, missing at least nine games in two out of the last three seasons. Given how far McCarthy's stock has fallen, he could be worth a buy-low dart throw for dynasty managers entering 2026.
Jun 29, 2026 12:29 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Fighting Uphill Battle to Win Starting QB Job?
Will Ragatz of Sports Illustrated writes that he saw enough eye-popping throws from new Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray in offseason practices that "make it hard to imagine" J.J. McCarthy "having a realistic chance to win this competition." It's still only OTAs, but so far, Murray has looked sharper throwing the football than McCarthy. McCarthy still has plenty of zip on his passes and has shown signs of mechanical improvement from a year ago (his first as a full-time starter in the NFL), but Murray "looks like a veteran quarterback who can make all the throws." "His physical talent throwing the ball has been on display every day," head coach Kevin O'Connell said of Murray. "The ability to throw to all three levels, layer the ball, anticipation that veteran players bring to the position." McCarthy, who was the 10th overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Michigan, struggled mightily with accuracy and decision-making, and also struggled to stay healthy, completing 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 10 starts after missing his entire rookie season due to knee surgery. It's still early in McCarthy's career, but it's quickly looking like he's falling out of favor as Minnesota's QB of the future.
Jun 5, 2026 9:58 AM EST
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