The Minnesota Vikings may have no choice but to explore the availability of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray .
Minnesota can preach patience with McCarthy, but it still needs a credible Plan B, and Murray fits the "proven starter" bucket better than most options.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy was rolling for a couple of games, personally spanking two of the NFL's worst defenses and hoping to ride the momentum wave at the New York Giants in Week 16.
But a typical demon resurfaced for McCarthy as a hand injury kicked him out of the game, forcing Vikings fans to groan. The injury reignited a popular theory from the last few weeks: contemplating Murray's trade price or the possibility of an outright release by the Cardinals.
Murray-to-Vikings suddenly doesn't sound so silly.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray looks on during pregame warmups ahead of a matchup with the Cleveland Browns, Dec 15, 2019, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The scene captured Murray preparing for action early in his NFL career as Arizona continued evaluating its young franchise quarterback. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian–USA TODAY Sports
McCarthy Hurt
McCarthy was holding his own against the Giants before a 2nd quarter hand collision changed the day. His hand caught a defender's helmet, ending his afternoon early and sending him for imaging. The X-ray came back clean, leaving the diagnosis in limbo — either a deep bruise or something ligament-related that won't declare itself immediately.
That uncertainty feels familiar. Nearly two years into the McCarthy era, Minnesota is back in wait-and-see mode, with no clear timeline and no guarantees. Whether he takes another snap this season is suddenly in question, a pause that matters given how much development time has already been lost.
If McCarthy can't go on Christmas Day against Detroit , the offense shifts to Max Brosmer . The undrafted rookie stepped in Sunday and looked more composed than he did during his rough Week 13 outing in Seattle , offering at least a steadier baseline if Minnesota has to turn the page again.
But on the whole, almost no matter what regarding the injury, the situation proved that McCarthy's injury pattern is now prevalent. The team may have no other choice but to explore an alternative in the offseason.
Murray Probably Played His Final Snap in Arizona
The Cardinals have not won a playoff game with Murray in the saddle — in seven seasons. That's a problem, and Arizona's brass appears to be done with Murray. NFL media hinted that Murray had been "softly benched" a couple of months ago in favor of current quarterback Jacoby Brissett , and nobody within the Cardinals' leadership vigorously refuted the theory.
When the offseason arrives, Murray's landing spot — via trade or release — will likely lead the way for NFL storylines.
Bleacher Report 's Julia Stumbaugh on Murray's situation : "This marks the second time in three seasons Murray has sat out the majority of a campaign due to injury. He was limited to eight games in 2023 amid his recovery from a torn right ACL. The quarterback is currently signed through 2027 with a club option for 2028, according to Spotrac."
"He is already owed $39.8 million in guaranteed money for 2026, and will receive another $17 million in guarantees for 2027 should he remain on the Cardinals roster past March 15. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler previously noted that the "ideal" situation for the Cards quarterback could be to join the Minnesota Vikings and hope head coach Kevin O'Connell can follow up his work with Sam Darnold by rehabilitating Murray's career in 2026."
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor celebrates with quarterback J.J. McCarthy after scoring a second-half touchdown, Dec 14, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The brief exchange highlighted timing and trust within Minnesota's passing game as the Vikings built momentum during a primetime road victory over Dallas. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj–Imagn Images
Murray also grew up as a Vikings fan.
Stumbaugh added, "Whether the Vikings would consider taking on Murray's cap hit, however, could depend on how confident the team feels in J.J. McCarthy going into 2026. The Cardinals are currently slated to draft behind multiple teams potentially in need of a quarterback in 2026, including the Las Vegas Raiders , Tennessee Titans , Cleveland Browns and New York Jets , per Tankathon."
"How these teams end up approaching the draft could potentially shape how much demand there is for Murray this offseason."
The Money Problem
Of course, nothing is ever easy or straightforward when formulating quarterback theories like this. Murray is no different. The man won't take a paycut to join the Vikings — why would he?
His cap hit in 2026 alone is $53 million, and the Vikings' budget is already in the red by about $36 million. It just doesn't make much sense to onboard Murray unless general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah finds some serious tricks up his sleeve.
Multiple players would have to be released to accommodate Murray, and players like Jordan Addison may not be extended. The money for Murray would have to come from somewhere.
Why Murray over McCarthy?
The knock on Murray, for the most part, is his injury history — just like McCarthy. He missed half of the 2023 campaign and only played five games this season. It's just that no one knows if Murray is hurt-hurt or if the Cardinals indeed softly benched him.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray reacts following a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dec 8, 2019, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The moment reflected postgame frustration during Murray's rookie season as Arizona navigated growing pains while evaluating its long-term direction at quarterback. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian–USA TODAY Sports
The argument for Murray over McCarthy is that Murray is a known productive passer. The Vikings will merely hope that McCarthy achieves Murray's production in the next couple of seasons, while remaining healthy along the way.
Murray is mobile, big-armed, and has a 67.1% career completion percentage. Some Vikings fans don't like the idea of him turning purple, but he would solidify the quarterback spot with a higher upside than Kirk Cousins , for example.
