J.J. McCarthy will now be the Minnesota Vikings' backup quarterback as the start of the 2026 NFL regular season draws closer. Kevin O'Connell looks to improve upon Minnesota's 9-8 record last year as the 2024 AP NFL Coach of the Year enters his fifth year as the Vikings' head coach.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the former No. 1 overall pick from the 2019 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Kyler Murray, beat out McCarthy for the starting job. In five games last year, Murray threw for 962 yards on a 68.3% completion percentage, to go along with six touchdowns and three interceptions.
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McCarthy was able to play 10 games for Minnesota in 2025, throwing for 1,632 yards on a 57.6% completion percentage, to go along with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. With the former No. 10 overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft benched for the newly acquired Murray, there is growing speculation on McCarthy's future in Minnesota.
Recently, NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported that coach O'Connell is all-in on Kyler, that McCarthy is unlikely to stay with the Vikings this season and linked the Philadelphia Eagles as one of the teams that are potentially interested in the 23-year-old, were he to become available.
“Another personnel executive suggested the Eagles as a potential bargain-bin buyer," relayed La Canfora. "With Eagles GM Howie Roseman doing extensive background work on developmental quarterbacks ahead of the supplemental draft.”
Philadelphia executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman is known for having one of the best front offices in the sport, twice winning the Pro Football Writers of America Executive of the Year award (2017, 2022). Eagles 2025 Super Bowl MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts was a successful developmental project for the franchise, which could increase its belief in the McCarthy reclamation project.
The report also links the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins as teams showing potential interest.
Minnesota starts the 2026 NFL regular season hosting the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 4:25 p.m. ET.
