J.J. McCarthy’s stock is at the lowest of his career to start September 2026, but that doesn’t mean his career story has been written altogether, says SI.com‘s Albert Breer.
Breer delivered several NFL observations with the start of the regular season now just one week away, and tucked inside, he mentioned a brief McCarthy tidbit: Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell wants to continue working with the youngster.
The intel arrives after fans have speculated that McCarthy could be traded and even waived in recent days.
The Vikings May Not Be Ready to Give Up Just Yet
The One-Liner from Breer
Breer kept it short and sweet near the end of his column, writing, “I have gotten the sense, for what it’s worth, that Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell wants to keep working with J.J. McCarthy.”
This is important, especially right before the regular season, because the outside conversation had tilted toward a trade or release after Kyler Murray won QB1 and Carson Wentz is threatening to steal the QB2 spot. Breer’s wording, of course, doesn’t promise McCarthy a future starting job, but it does suggest O’Connell hasn’t mentally closed the book.
Minnesota kept three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, and McCarthy remains under contract through 2027. One sentence cannot erase two disappointing seasons, but it changes the premise from “when is he gone?” to “what development comes next?” — per Breer.
If you’re yearning for a McCarthy trade, that may not happen this season.
Yes, 23 Is Too Young to Quit On
You would think that general managers and head coaches would learn their lesson. Hell, Sam Darnold won a Super Bowl last year, and at McCarthy’s current age, he was a joke – – an actual “seeing ghosts” joke – – with the New York Jets.
McCarthy missed his rookie season after knee surgery, then played only 10 games in 2025 while dealing with additional injuries. The results were poor: 57.6% completions, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Still, quarterbacks rarely arrive on linear timelines. Minnesota invested the 10th overall pick and three years of development. If O’Connell still believes there is something worth salvaging, keeping McCarthy around costs less than prematurely abandoning a talented quarterback before age 24.
It’s also worth noting there is no financial incentive to get rid of McCarthy. None. The only reason the Vikings should consider it would be a change in McCarthy’s attitude behind the scenes. And as of September 2, there are no reports of that.
A Long Road Back to Vikings’ QB1 Job?
The positive Breer comment doesn’t mean McCarthy is inches away from reclaiming the QB1 job. He feels far from it with the regular season looming in September.
If Murray got injured today, it’s unclear if O’Connell would tab McCarthy or Wentz for QB1 duty. That’s how far McCarthy’s stock fell in August. He went from a guy who might knock off Murray for the QB1 job at training camp to an unknown commodity that may already be the QB3.
McCarthy’s trek back to QB1 probably requires patience: get healthy, rebuild mechanics, perform well in practice, and capitalize whenever regular season snaps arrive. McCarthy cannot simply wait for Murray to fail. He has to become visibly better.
His main focus should be to improve. The injuries are a side burden.
Best Destinations for McCarthy if MIN Doesn’t Work Out
If McCarthy just isn’t destined to remain with the Vikings, a few alternatives make sense. First, he could reunite with Jim Harbaugh out in Los Angeles and serve as the QB2 or QB3 behind Justin Herbert. Harbaugh and McCarthy won a championship at Michigan; Harbaugh would take good care of him through the duration of his rookie contract.
The San Francisco 49ers might be intriguing, especially if Mac Jones earns a QB1 contract during the 2027 offseason. Quarterbacks tend to visit Kyle Shanahan’s team to reclaim their careers.
The Philadelphia Eagles also check some boxes because general manager Howie Roseman loves to buy low on once-coveted youngsters.
───────────── ─────────────
VikesNow Verdict: McCarthy remains buried behind Murray and potentially Wentz, but Breer’s note is a reminder that development is not dead. At 23, Minnesota has little incentive to force the divorce. The tricky question is whether a realistic path back to QB1 in Minnesota still exists.
───────────── ─────────────
About The Author
