Kyler Murray is the Vikings' starting quarterback. What comes next for J.J. McCarthy?

Ben Goessling, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Aug 11, 2026

Published in Football

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings plan to begin the 2026 season with their fourth different starting quarterback in as many years.

Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Tuesday that Kyler Murray will be the Vikings’ starter in 2026, ending the quarterback competition in training camp between Murray and J.J. McCarthy. Murray, who signed a one-year deal with the team in March after he was released by Arizona, is now slated to start the regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 13.

The Vikings split first-team snaps between Murray and McCarthy at the start of training camp. Murray, the top pick in the 2019 draft, struggled at times early on against a Vikings defense that has flustered quarterbacks in practice the past several years.

Though Murray has stumbled in recent days, throwing two interceptions in the Vikings’ Sunday night practice, it makes sense the team wanted to end the QB competition. This way, Murray can get first-team work heading into Saturday’s preseason opener against the San Francisco Giants and next week’s joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Vikings picked Murray, who turned 29 on Aug. 7, rather than staking the start of their season on McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Murray has the chance to be the next former top pick to reset his career in Minnesota, hoping to follow what Sam Darnold did in 2024 on his way to a long-term deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings let Darnold leave in free agency after his Pro Bowl season in Minnesota, and Daniel Jones also departed for Indianapolis the same offseason. If Murray has a strong 2026 season in Minnesota, it stands to reason the Vikings might keep him instead of letting him leave for another team.

For that to happen, he’ll have to stay on the field after playing just five games last year, and show he can be a long-term answer for the Vikings at the position. If Murray meets those standards, McCarthy’s run in Minnesota could come to a close. McCarthy, 23, started just 10 games for the Vikings his first two seasons after a knee injury wiped out his entire rookie year in 2024.

McCarthy threw 12 interceptions against 11 touchdowns in 2025, while completing 57.6% of his passes and missing seven games due to multiple injuries. The Vikings won their final four games with McCarthy last year, but he left just before halftime with a hairline fracture in his right hand on Dec. 21 against the San Francisco Giants. He then took himself out of the team’s season finale against the Packers when the hand injury left him unable to throw downfield.

During training camp, McCarthy has alternated between impressive moments and times where he missed throws or held the ball too long.

He is still signed through 2027, but the Vikings will have to make a decision on his fifth-year option for the 2028 season in May.

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