Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Tuesday that veteran passer Kyler Murray will lead his team into 2026 after a two-week-long battle with J.J. McCarthy. In 2025, McCarthy held the QB1 title, but a demotion upset that path this summer.
Now, one must wonder: If Murray actually went down, would McCarthy unquestionably be the quarterback O’Connell turned to? Does he have to worry about Carson Wentz, who is rather accustomed to QB2 duty?
The Depth Chart Is Clear, but the Hypothetical May Not Be
McCarthy Is Officially QB2
O’Connell was asked Tuesday, “Is J.J. the backup?”
He replied, “Yes.”
That means McCarthy is just one Murray injury away from the QB1 job, as O’Connell added, “I think it benefited both those guys and maybe accelerated some things and maybe also let us know exactly where we’re at with both guys and in our attempt to get them both ready, even if J.J.’s a snap away. That’s really, really important, as we’ve learned here.”
McCarthy, of course, started 10 games for the Vikings last year while battling a high ankle sprain, a concussion, and a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. His inconsistency and sudden injury resume propelled the Vikings to find another quarterback alternative this offseason, and that just so happened to be Murray for $1.3 million in free agency.
O’Connell also said of McCarthy’s future, “He’s got to also understand this isn’t just a long-term mindset, which we want to have always for a player his caliber and a young player like him, but it could be an immediate response needed. And J.J.’s the kind of guy that’ll be ready to rock and roll. I know that.”
Wentz Has Something McCarthy Doesn’t
That makes Wentz the QB3 from a mid-August standpoint, a slight drop on the depth chart from his QB2 job title last year.
O’Connell said Tuesday, “I think Carson and Max have both shown, in somewhat limited reps trying to get those other guys reps, not only what they’re capable of, but where they’re at in their comfort level and their ability to go in and make throws.”
“So, as far as depth goes, we feel like we’ve got four guys we can win with.”
Wentz started five games for the Vikings last year, with the club tabulating a 2-3 record on his watch. But he’s started 99 games in the NFL since 2016, which is a massive amount for a QB3.
“Carson knew from very early on in the offseason, regardless of what other moves or moves we made in that room, that we wanted him back. And he loved being in Minnesota. He loves our fan base. He loved getting to wear the Purple and Gold,” O’Connell mentioned about Wentz in March.
McCarthy is the QB2 on the depth chart right now, but it should be pointed out that a player with nine times the experience might be attractive as a QB2 option, depending on the season’s flow.
The “Highest Floor” Argument for Wentz
Suppose Minnesota has a 7-2 record or something similar in November. An injury sidelines Murray for an undetermined number of games. From the 2025 evidence, O’Connell already knows that he can finish almost .500 with Wentz under center. The Vikings had a 6-4 record with McCarthy in the huddle last year, but much of that success came from Brian Flores’s demonic December and January defense, along with O’Connell running the football more frequently down the stretch of 2026.
There’s a world where the more seasoned Wentz becomes attractive in the Murray injury hypothetical, mainly because he could be a steadier option than McCarthy. Food for thought.
An Altered Career Trajectory, No Matter What
The summer of 2026 was McCarthy’s big moment. He could’ve kept Murray at bay, scored the upset at training camp, and led the Vikings as QB1. But that didn’t happen. The guy Minnesota drafted as the quarterback of the future in 2024 has been downgraded to a developmental project. That’s all there is to it.
Murray isn’t well-known for upper-echelon durability, so McCarthy may get a crack at the QB1 job before too long. Still, as the situation stands, one must wonder if he’s the future QB1 of the Vikings, the future QB of another team, or trending toward a semi-failed 1st-round pick – – that are not uncommon in the NFL and sports in general.
The question is no longer “Will McCarthy start for the Vikings in 2026?” It is: can he keep a grip on the QB2 job and stave off Wentz, can he thrive if given an opportunity in 2026, and will he be a trade asset during the 2027 offseason?
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VikesNow Verdict: McCarthy owns QB2 today, and O’Connell clearly wants him prepared for the next snap. But Wentz gives Minnesota a rare luxury: a third quarterback with 99 career starts. McCarthy’s job now is making sure the hypothetical never comes true.
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