Story by
J.J. McCarthy Hit With More Bad News Following Kyler Murray Signing
- Story by
- J.J. McCarthy Hit With More Bad News Following Kyler Murray Signing
J.J. McCarthy is losing his grip on the Vikings' starting job, and it might be gone for good.
Last week, Minnesota signed Kyler Murray to a one-year, $1.3 million deal. It was an easy move for the Vikings because the Arizona Cardinals are still paying Murray $36.8 million in guarantees.
Advertisement
Head coach Kevin O'Connell had already hinted in January that the franchise wanted a real challenger for McCarthy, whose first two NFL seasons have been a struggle.
After missing his entire 2024 rookie year with a knee injury, McCarthy played only 10 games in 2025 due to more health issues. When he did play, he wasn't effective. He completed just 57.6% of his passes, threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11), and finished with one of the worst QBRs in the league.
Now, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport dropped the second bad news for McCarthy on Thursday, penning , "The #Vikings are adding QB depth, signing Carson Wentz to a 1-year deal, per The Insiders."
Advertisement
Last season, Wentz started five games for the Vikings, throwing for 1,216 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions before a shoulder injury ended his year.
Since he already knows the system, he's a reliable backup while Murray learns the playbook and McCarthy tries to save his job. Murray's signing was a blow to McCarthy, and Wentz will increase competition for him
Coach O'Connell, however, isn't naming a starter yet, telling reporters , "Unless I'm confused in any way, shape or form, I don't believe we have to name one of those currently."
Advertisement
But his actions say more than his words. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated , O'Connell told Murray the team views him as a potential long-term solution, not just a one-year "Band-Aid".
Related: Minnesota Vikings: Three Teams That QB J.J. McCarthy Could Potentially Be Traded To
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
