J.J. McCarthy Reveals Mindset Amid Vikings Quarterback Battle
The Minnesota Vikings began their OTA offseason workouts on Tuesday, and the biggest storyline revolves around the quarterback position. A battle has formed between last year's starter, J.J. McCarthy and free addition Kyler Murray.
McCarthy struggled to stay healthy last season, appearing in 10 games. He completed 140-of-243 passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 72.6 passer rating. The former No. 10 pick also rushed for 181 yards and four touchdowns.
Not living up to expectations, the Vikings opted to bring in Murray on a one-year, $1.3 million contract. Each is competing to be the Week 1 starter when Minnesota takes on the Green Bay Packers.
With him and Murray now sharing the practice field, things are beginning to heat up. On Wednesday, McCarthy opened up on what he's focused on while a newcomer threatens his starting role.
"The organization made a decision that they feel like is gonna improve the depth and quality of the room," McCarthy said. "They feel like they made that decision. All I'm thinking about is continuing the upward trajectory that I set for myself last season, that last quarter of the season, and continuing to be the best version of me every single day."
"The organization made a decision that they feel like is going to improve the depth and quality of the room."
— Bring Me The Sports (@BMTNSports) May 27, 2026
J.J. McCarthy talks about the Vikings' decision to bring in Kyler Murray this offseason. pic.twitter.com/O3DK2kuzpE
While McCarthy wasn't perfect last year, neither was Murray. In five starts, he threw for 962 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions and an 88.6 passer rating. The 2019 No. 1 pick also rushed for 173 yards and one touchdown.
He's just as ready to prove himself as well, saying, "My confidence is unshakeable. That's how I feel about myself... That's what you're getting with me, as far as confidence goes. You won't see me waver," according to Bring Me The Sports' Will Ragatz.
With McCarthy and Murray both looking to outperform the other, Minnesota will continue evaluating each signal caller's performance in practice. With their first game not until Sept. 13, there's plenty of time to decide a winner.
Related: Chiefs Make $9.7 Million Move During OTAs
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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 2:02 PM.