If you’re keeping score at home, there’s at least one prominent national NFL pundit who believes J.J. McCarthy will be under center when the Minnesota Vikings host the Green Bay Packers in September. He’s Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, and he claimed this week that Minnesota will give McCarthy one last chance to thrive in the QB1 job before pulling the plug in favor of Kyler Murray, if applicable.
The prediction is notable because most of the world, generally speaking, thinks the opposite – – that Murray will prevail.
Russo Thinks McCarthy Gets the First Shot
Russo’s McCarthy Prediction
Speaking on ESPN’s First Take this week, Russo said about McCarthy, “I think they will start the season with him to see if they have their answer at the position, but they’re not going to blow a season because he’s finding himself.”
“So, as a result, he’ll get a short leash. He doesn’t get the job done, then Murray’s the quarterback. That’s the way I look at it in Minnesota.”
In Vikings fans’ estimation, for the most part, Murray will win the QB1 competition, and if he falters or gets hurt, McCarthy would enter the lineup hoping to save the day.
“Now, I don’t like Murray. Arizona gave up on him. They went to Jacoby Brissett. To me, that’s a bad sign. I’m not a big fan,” Russo added.
“I can understand why he’s doing it,” Russo continued, referring to head coach Kevin O’Connell. “You know, he wants to give Murray a chance, but they’re in trouble at this position.”
Russo also said he doesn’t really believe in McCarthy as the long-term solution, so he’s pretty low on Minnesota’s entire quarterback setup.
Stranger Things Have Happened
The Vikings chose McCarthy as the QB1 last year. It was not long ago that the franchise trusted him with all the marbles, even letting Sam Darnold leave in 2025 free agency because it had the utmost confidence in McCarthy’s maturation.
Therefore, it would not be unheard of for McCarthy to show improvement at training camp, so much so that O’Connell handed him the QB1 scepter, with Murray relegated to the QB2 spot.
That scenario is unlikely because of Murray’s production history, but starting the quarterback who was trusted last year is not a foreign concept.
The Murray Fallout — How Would He React
If Russo is on to something, and McCarthy prevails this summer, all eyes would turn to Murray and his immediate reaction. He’s never really been benched anywhere; his talent hasn’t allowed it. Murray also chose the Vikings in free agency over a handful of suitors. Onlookers would quickly wonder whether Murray would accept a QB2 job in 2026, when teams like the New York Jets could arguably upgrade with Murray at quarterback.
Murray may not flip out and demand a trade in Russo’s scenario, but you better believe the media and Vikings fans would watch his every move to understand his feelings on the QB2 demotion.
Too, the same situation awaits McCarthy – – if he loses the competition. Will either man accept the QB2 post with grace? Or become melancholy and ask general manager Nolan Teasley for a trade? Stay tuned.
Murray Still Looks Like the Favorite
In the end, Russo’s prediction is likely just a July theory. O’Connell claimed this week that Murray and McCarthy will get close to a 50-50 split with first-teamers at training camp, but the writing on the wall still points to Murray prevailing when O’Connell picks his QB1.
Murray has the experience, arm strength, pocket mobility, speed, and passing accuracy to be a QB1 in the NFL, and he’s not really someone who loses quarterback competitions. It’s why oddsmakers continue to favor Murray over McCarthy as the QB1 victor.
O’Connell said Tuesday that he has a date in mind to have a QB1 installed, though he didn’t reveal it to the public. Mid-August is a reasonable guess, as either Murray or McCarthy will likely want action with the first-team offense, especially Murray, who is brand new to the enterprise.
Minnesota and Baltimore embark on joint practices August 19. That could be a tell-all date.
And Russo believes McCarthy has the edge, despite most of his peers claiming otherwise.
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VikesNow Verdict: Russo is swimming against the current, but McCarthy still has a path to QB1. Minnesota is giving both quarterbacks a real opportunity in camp; whether McCarthy can turn that opportunity into a Week 1 start is another matter.
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