The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for the 2025-26 NFL season with substantial team changes. After Sam Darnold’s move to the Seattle Seahawks, the team has placed its trust in young JJ McCarthy as its starting quarterback. Despite this decision, the franchise still faces intense competition for the backup quarterback spot, which remains unsettled. In response to these developments, head coach Kevin O’Connell has finally addressed the situation.
“There’s a reason why we’re playing all three of them. As far as what that means in the overall competition, I think I would just say that it’s still open and we’re trying to figure out what that room is going to look like for the season,” Kevin O’Connell said, via The Athletic.
Throughout the 2025 preseason, Vikings fans have observed Max Brosmer, Brett Rypien, and Sam Howell take on crucial roles in the quarterback rotation as they compete for the QB2 spot. Brosmer, however, has made the most significant impact in these first two games, swiftly becoming one of the fan favorites for the position. Despite this, his lack of experience could prove to be a disadvantage.
In contrast, Sam Howell stands out as the most seasoned of the trio. Over three NFL seasons, he has played 20 games with the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks. This experience made him a strong contender for the backup QB role. However, his uneven preseason performances have raised doubts. His lackluster showing against the New England Patriots contrasted with a stronger game against the Houston Texans, leaving fans uncertain about his reliability.
Kahlef Hailassie #25 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates an interception in the fourth quarter during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 9, 2025.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has made it clear that JJ McCarthy will take the helm as QB1, despite his limited experience. However, fans are eager for his backup to bring more seasoned expertise to the table, as relying on another inexperienced player would introduce significant uncertainties if called upon. With this context, the upcoming game against the Tennessee Titans carries considerable weight in determining who could solidify the role of QB2.
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Vikings’ QB JJ McCarthy earns strong praise from Kevin O’Connell
Despite limited NFL experience, JJ McCarthy has quickly demonstrated his value to the Minnesota Vikings. In the recent game against the Texans, the young quarterback took the field and completed four of seven passes, amassing 30 yards. Even before the preseason started, head coach Kevin O’Connell had already lauded McCarthy, highlighting his abilities in his analysis.
“It felt decisive and it felt like there was an incredible amount of conviction to some of the decisions he made… It was all things we’ve been working on, all things he’s talented at and capable of doing. But to do it in this setting should give him some confidence moving forward,” Kevin O’Connell said, as reported by ESPN.
