Hence, all eyes are on JJ McCarthy’s situation. In fact, after re-signing Wentz, many thought McCarthy’s future was sealed. Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN, the re-signing of Wentz “doesn’t move the needle on whether the team ultimately moves on from J.J. McCarthy. It’s about avoiding the depth emergencies.”

Hence, extrapolating the report, the pecking order will remain with McCarthy over Wentz, though it is speculated that Kyler Murray will be the one under center if all three signal-callers are healthy.

How did Wentz do last season?

Wentz had his chance after McCarthy suffered injuries last season. He ended up starting five games, where the team went 2-3. Still, he looked arguably better than McCarthy. Wentz season even played through a shoulder injury that ended up being a season-ending affair.

Wentz completed 65.1% of his passes for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns and five intereceptions. He had a way better completion percentage than McCarthy, and only 416 yards less despite playing five less games.

Murray should easily distance himself during the preseason

Murray also played just five games last season and had a 2-3 record. However, he had a 68.3 completion percentage, though for only 962 yards, six touchdowns to three picks. Still, he is by far the most talented of the three.

Murray was a first overall pick, and while his career hasn’t been what was expected, he has an educated arm, a well-polished skill set, and a dual-threat capability. Also, he is in his prime athletic years. McCarthy is too raw, and Wentz too old.

“Veteran QB Carson Wentz is re-signing with the Vikings, sources tell The Insiders. So Minnesota’s QB room now features three former top-10 picks: Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy and Wentz, who played well last season before a shoulder injury.”

Head coach Kevin O’Connell appears to have a roster that is just one QB away from being a Super Bowl contender. After letting go of names like Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, he can’t afford to miss anymore.

Who will be Vikings starting QB in 2026?

Kyler Murray would be the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in 2026, although an open competition with J.J. McCarthy is currently expected. In this scenario, Carson Wentz would be an experienced option in case of emergency.

J.J. McCarthy’s future with Vikings

What’s interesting about Carson Wentz in Minnesota is that, as was the case with Murray, it would signal a lack of confidence in J.J. McCarthy. Insider Alec Lewis revealed that in 2025, the Vikings believed Wentz could take them to the playoffs before his injury.

“Carson Wentz, back in Minnesota. The Vikings have rounded out the QB room the way they wanted to. Wentz had a lot of fans internally — many believed they might’ve snuck in playoffs had he stayed healthy.”

The depth chart now has McCarthy, but Murray comes in to fill the place of Carson Wentz, who departed the team. Third-tier Max Brosmer is still on the roster, but he will be relegated in the pecking order. John Wolford also departed the team.

For Murray, this is almost an ultimatum. If he can’t beat McCarthy for the starting job, his days as a QB1 in the NFL are all but done. After all, Arizona preferred to deal with Jacoby Brissett, than continue to trust Murray.

JJ McCarthy is also facing huge pressure

McCarthy was a first-round pick in 2024, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury before he could ever step foot in the gridiron. During his sophomore season, McCarthy didn’t impress, and also missed time with plenty of other injuries. He almost lost his job to Carson Wentz, but Wentz also got injured.

McCarthy came into the league with plenty of hype after guiding Michigan to a College Football National Championship. In 2025 where he played just 10 games, had a 6-4 record, completed a dysmal 57.6% of his passes for only 1632 yards and had 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Hence, the Vikings opted to go for a more experienced guy under center. It’s a serious message for McCarthy, who was very underwhelming.

Kevin O’Connell has proven to be a wonderful HC to revive QBs

A change of scenery might be just what Kyler Murray needed. After all, he is going to play for Kevin O’Connell, an offensive mastermind who revived the career of Sam Darnold. Not only that, Murray will have a top-tier WR corp with the likes of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to make life easier for him. His only task is beating JJ McCarthy for the starting position.

According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the situation could develop quickly depending on how the meeting goes. “Former Cardinals QB Kyler Murray will visit Thursday with the Minnesota Vikings, as John Gambadoro also reported. The belief across the league is that the Vikings are Murray’s likely landing spot.”

If the visit goes well, the Vikings could suddenly find themselves at the center of a huge storyline in the NFL. Murray remains one of the most talented dual-threat quarterbacks available, and Minnesota could see him as a potential solution as they try to return to be a Super Bowl contender. However, that could send a message of lack of trust to J.J. McCarthy.

Who will be Vikings starting quarterback in 2026?

At this moment, the answer could come down to an open competition between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray if the former Cardinals quarterback ultimately signs with Minnesota. McCarthy is still viewed as a long-term project with significant upside, but Murray’s experience would immediately create a legitimate battle for the QB1 role.

It would also be difficult to imagine Murray agreeing to sign with the Vikings without having a real opportunity to win the starting job. A quarterback of his caliber is unlikely to accept a purely backup role, meaning Minnesota would likely frame the situation as a true competition during training camp.

The Vikings are already facing criticism around the league after two major quarterback decisions backfired. The team allowed Sam Darnold to walk and then he went on to win a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. Then, Minnesota also moved on from Daniel Jones, who just signed a massive extension with the Indianapolis Colts. Those moves have increased the pressure.

Kyler Murray and Geno Smith have emerged as the primary targets to challenge McCarthy, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. Murray offers dynamic, dual-threat potential that fits Kevin O’Connell’s scheme, while Smith provides a veteran pocket presence and high-volume passing. Both are expected to be available on the market soon.

This shift signals a “win-now” desire for a roster that has elite talent like Justin Jefferson, for instance. By pursuing established Pro Bowlers, the Vikings are admitting they can’t afford another year of growing pains with McCarthy. Whether McCarthy wins the job or ends up on the bench, the era of him being the uncontested starter in Minnesota appears to be over.

Smith and Murray need a new job

Rumors of both Geno Smith and Kyler Murray going into the QB market are heating up. Smith might lose his job to presumed first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza. As for Murray, the team just seems to be ready to move on from him, with reports that head coach Mike LaFleur wants to reunite with a former player of his.

Murray has more leeway than Smith purely on two factors. Firstly, Murray is 28 years old, while Smith is 35. The other thing is, Smith really regressed in 2025, while Murray barely played due to injury. However, Smith’s stock really suffered last season.

Kevin O’Connell can make miracles with an average QB

Sam Darnold‘s miraculous redemption started with the Vikings under Kevin O’Connell. Hence, Smith could see the Vikings as an ideal spot to revive his career. The same can be said for Murray, in all fairness.

The Vikings have an elite weapon in Justin Jefferson, as well as very solid WR2 in Jordan Addison. That, under O’Connell’s scheme is actually a very good recipe, despite JJ McCarthy’s results. In the end, the Vikings have the tools to become a very good team, but they need a proper QB1.

Rumors surrounding Rodgers’ potential departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers have cooled significantly. The veteran quarterback is reportedly preparing to return to Pittsburgh, leaving Minnesota with one fewer option in free agency.

With Rodgers seemingly off the table, the Vikings are moving forward with plans to create competition for McCarthy ahead of the 2026 NFL season. And now, a new name has emerged.

Report: Vikings and Anthony Richardson have mutual interest

On Thursday, Anthony Richardson received clarity about his future with the Indianapolis Colts. The quarterback was granted permission to seek a trade, and Minnesota quickly surfaced as a potential landing spot.

According to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media, the Vikings and Richardson share “mutual interest” in joining forces for the 2026 season. If a deal materializes, Richardson would immediately compete with McCarthy for the QB1 role.

Rodgers had been mentioned as a possibility in recent weeks, but with the veteran expected to stay in Pittsburgh, Minnesota appears focused on younger — and potentially more affordable — alternatives.

Richardson lost his starting job in 2025 after the Colts signed Daniel Jones, ironically a former Vikings quarterback. Now, the former first-round pick could get a fresh opportunity in Minnesota, where the organization is clearly seeking stronger competition at the position.

Will J.J. McCarthy be traded?

As things stand, the Vikings are expected to host a legitimate quarterback battle heading into 2026. McCarthy is still viewed as the frontrunner, but his grip on the starting job is far from secure.

The biggest concern surrounding McCarthy remains durability. Injuries have limited his availability, and if he struggles to stay healthy and perform consistently, trade speculation could intensify sooner rather than later.

During the 2025 NFL offseason, the Vikings chose not to offer Darnold a new contract. Now, the quarterback is one step away from winning a Super Bowl, while Minnesota failed to even reach the Wild Card round, making the decision look increasingly costly.

Following a disappointing season, Jefferson spoke about his former quarterback. While he expressed happiness over Darnold’s success, the All-Pro receiver admitted he couldn’t help but wonder how different things might have been if the Vikings had kept him under center in 2025.

“Everyone knows the difficulty of the quarterback position this year, how we were dealt it,” Justin Jefferson said. “But having a quarterback that already had a season under his belt with us, knew the plays, knew the playbook, knew the players, throwing to me, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, all these guys, I definitely feel like we would have done better. But it is what it is, it’s on to newer and better things. But I’m definitely happy and proud of him that he is able to reach it this year.”

The Vikings face a difficult quarterback dilemma

After the 2024 NFL season, Minnesota moved on from Darnold and committed fully to JJ McCarthy as QB1. However, McCarthy missed his rookie season due to a serious knee injury, delaying his development.

Unfortunately, the 2025 campaign did not go as planned either. McCarthy once again dealt with injuries and was sidelined for multiple games. Even when he was available, the Vikings struggled offensively, fueling doubts among fans and analysts about the decision to let Darnold walk.

As the 2026 season approaches, the Vikings face a crucial crossroads. The organization must decide whether to continue investing in McCarthy or look for another veteran quarterback. Reports indicate the team is exploring options to add an experienced signal-caller—either as insurance behind McCarthy or as legitimate competition for the starting job.

While McCarthy remains a talented prospect, his inability to stay healthy is a growing concern. The 2026 season could represent his final opportunity to prove himself as the franchise quarterback. Time is running out for a team that cannot afford to waste the prime years of elite talents like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison due to instability at the most important position on the field.

It’s a situation the head coach is determined not to repeat next season, and he told reporters that building a deeper quarterback room will be a priority — even raising the standard across the board. In that sense, McCarthy’s grip on the starting job may not be completely secure, based on O’Connell’s comments.

“Ultimately, I think in the quarterback room, it’s about having just the deepest, [most] talented room you possibly can, every single year,” the HC told reporters on Tuesday. “What that looks like at a pretty impactful position on your salary cap, when you’re able to possibly plan for your depth chart looking in a way where you can be competitive no matter what.”

He also added: “I think there has to be (competition at quarterback). I think that’s what’s gonna make everybody better in that room. It’s gonna be what makes our entire offense thrive through that competition.”

Competition will bring out the best in McCarthy

While injuries once again proved to be a recurring issue for McCarthy — though nowhere near as severe as during his rookie season — increasing internal competition within the quarterback room could ultimately benefit the former Wolverine, according to the Vikings‘ head coach.

“J.J., I was really encouraged by the type of football he started to play towards the second half of the season and finishing the way he did,” O’Connell said. “We spend a lot of time talking about what the layers of change really were, and I think we all just tried to have a mindset on completions and however we could generate them, we started to see a little bit of that show up.

“We saw some explosives show up. We saw the ability to kind of balance that with what I thought at many points this year, our run game was productive enough for us to move the football and stay in a lot of games.”

McCarthy’s numbers this season

In his first season as a starter in 2025, J.J. McCarthy recorded 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, finishing the year with a 35.7 QBR. Despite showing flashes of his potential, his debut campaign was severely hampered by a series of injuries, including a high-ankle sprain, a concussion, and a late-season hairline fracture in his right hand. These setbacks forced him to miss seven games, limiting him to just 10 starts and preventing him from finding a consistent rhythm in the Vikings’ offense.

The reason for McCarthy’s absence is he is dealing with a hairline fracture on his throwing hand. This rendered him out of the game and that’s why Max Brosmer will be under center. McCarthy hasn’t been able to stay healthy all season long.

The Vikings are already eliminated from playoff contention, while the Lions aren’t mathematically done, but they are hanging by a thread. Hence, Detroit must be thrilled to face the backup even if McCarthy is not an elite QB by any means.

The McCarthy experiment is not working out

When the Vikings ended last year with a 14-3 record, they though that it wasn’t Sam Darnold‘s work, but the system. Hence, they let their QB go and trusted McCarthy this year, who was injured last season. It’s safe to say the decision hasn’t been the best in retrospective.

The former Michigan Wolverine is not living up to the hype. He has a 5-4 record in nine games, completing only 57.3% of his passes for 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He has a season QBR of 33.9, which puts him 31st in the NFL among 33 qualifying quarterbacks.

The Vikings might try and get a new QB soon

Whether it’s Kirk Cousins returning as a free agent, gambling on Anthony Richardson’s potential or drafting another prospect, there is a big possibility that the team looks for a quarterback.

It’s not only because of McCarthy’s poor level, but also because of his lack of availability. McCarthy didn’t play at all during his rookie season and he has missed seven games, counting this Christmas, this year. It might be a team priority to find a reliable guy next offseason.

The slate kicks off at Northwest Stadium, where the Washington Commanders will host the Dallas Cowboys in a head-to-head NFC East showdown. With both teams already eliminated from playoff contention, America’s Team will be led by veteran quarterback Dak Prescott, while the Commanders will turn to Josh Johnson under center following the absences of Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.

Next up, the spotlight shifts to the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings will host the Detroit Lions, who are still dreaming of a playoff berth. The home team will lean on Max Brosmer as its primary signal-caller, while Dan Campbell will once again put his trust in Jared Goff to lead Detroit in pursuit of a crucial victory.

The main stage of TNF will be set at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Kansas City Chiefs will host the AFC’s current No. 1 seed, the Denver Broncos. Andy Reid will be forced to fill the void left by Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew, turning to Chris Oladokun under center, while the visitors will look to Bo Nix as their leading figure on the night.

Three starters sidelined by injury

This year’s NFL Christmas slate has lost a significant amount of star power due to a string of unfortunate quarterback injuries. The Kansas City Chiefs will be without Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee during a Week 15 matchup against the Chargers; the injury required surgery and has sidelined the three-time MVP for the remainder of the year.

Similarly, the Washington Commanders have officially shut down Jayden Daniels for the season after he reaggravated a dislocated elbow that had plagued him since mid-season.

Lastly, the Minnesota Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy was ruled out specifically for the holiday game after imaging revealed a hairline fracture in his right throwing hand, an injury sustained when he struck a defender’s helmet in a previous game. These absences mean all three Christmas matchups will feature backup signal-callers, shifting the focus from elite quarterback duels to a test of roster depth.

Ahead of a crucial matchup against the Commanders, where the playoff hopes are on the line, the coach spoke during his usual press conference and appeared optimistic about McCarthy’s availability at US Bank Stadium.

“Expecting, barring any unforeseen changes to where he’s at today, and hopefully having that Wednesday will allow him to have a normal, full week and likely be able to go in as our starter on Sunday,” O’Connell said.

During the Week 12 matchup against the Packers, the former Wolverines player suffered a hard hit that forced him into concussion protocol, keeping him off the field during the trip to Seattle.

McCarthy still struggling to find his footing in the NFL

J.J. McCarthy is still waiting for his breakout moment in the NFL, having had his initial progress severely hampered by injuries. His rookie season was a complete washout as he missed the entire year due to injury.

This season, his availability remains a concern; he has played only six games while missing an equal number due to recurring physical issues. In his limited time on the field, his performance has been challenging, logging 929 passing yards and 6 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, resulting in a low 21.1 QBR. McCarthy clearly has yet to find his footing and consistently demonstrate the promise expected of him.

Brosmer didn’t seize his opportunity

Forced into the starting role due to injuries to J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz, Max Brosmer endured a rough outing against the Seattle Seahawks, resulting in a 26-0 shutout—the Vikings’ first since 2007.

Brosmer finished the day completing 19 of 30 passes for a meager 126 yards, but the turnover tally proved catastrophic, as he threw four interceptions, two of which were hauled in by linebacker Ernest Jones IV. This turnover-prone performance solidified a miserable day for the Vikings’ offense.

Can the Vikings still make the Playoffs?

The NFC North was from the start one of the most competitive divisions, and it has certainly lived up to that expectation. According to the NFL’s official site, the Vikings currently hold a 1% chance of securing a Wild Card after 13 weeks, with a current record of 4-8.

NFC North current standings

• Chicago Bears (9-3)
• Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
• Detroit Lions (7-5)
• Minnesota Vikings (4-8)

What’s next for the Vikings?

The Minnesota Vikings face a highly challenging schedule to conclude their season. This upcoming slate begins with a home matchup against the Washington Commanders.

They then embark on a tough two-game road trip, facing the formidable Dallas Cowboys and then the New York Giants. The season finishes with two critical home divisional battles against the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. Winning these divisional contests will be absolutely vital for the Vikings to stay alive in the NFC Wild Card race.