There have certainly been worse quarterbacks in NFL history than Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, but things have gone downhill fast for the former national champion.
The Vikings are currently playing the New York Giants in their first preseason game since naming Kyler Murray the starting quarterback. Murray's day was short, completing two of three passes for 10 yards, before McCarthy came on.
But McCarthy didn't exactly thrive in the backup QB role. He went four of seven for 34 yards and took a sack before head coach Kevin O'Connell decided to sub him out for Carson Wentz, who he's battling for the role.
Wentz performed slightly better under center, completing five of nine passes for 50 yards and a touchdown before getting the rest of the day off.
The End for McCarthy?
To go from starting QB to losing the battle for backup on the same team is rough for any quarterback, let alone one who this time two years ago was expected to be the future of the franchise. Fans are already calling this the end of his time in Minnesota, or suggesting that it should be:
"As much as I hate to say this as a JJ fan I feel that he needs a change of scenery. There is to much negativity surrounding him here. The fans, the team, everything. He just looks checked out and defeated and it sucks to see," one user on X wrote.
"If JJ gets shipped out, will the fans ever find out what the off-field issues were/are?" another mused.
"It looks like they’re competing for 3rd string," a third remarked.
"Hopefully JJs time in Minnesota is also done..."
"Wentz already looks sharper than JJ."
© Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
McCarthy led the Michigan Wolverines to a national title in 2023 but was seen as a somewhat polarizing prospect entering the 2024 NFL Draft. Nevertheless, the Vikings traded up to take him No. 10 overall and anticipated giving him a lot of action as a rookie.
But an offseason injury ended McCarthy's rookie season before it began and Sam Darnold stepped in to lead the team to a superb season. In the ensuing offseason, the Vikings made the controversial decision to let Darnold walk in free agency while naming McCarthy the starter.
The decision blew up in their faces as McCarthy struggled and ranked among the worst starters in the league while Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl glory.
There might still be time for McCarthy to turn his career around, but it's increasingly looking like that time won't come in Minnesota.
