Report reveals Vikings' 'foremost concern' about J.J. McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings were widely expected to at least acquire some competition for quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

This was even before the franchise shockingly parted ways with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and before star wide receiver Justin Jefferson seemed to take some veiled shots at McCarthy during recent media appearances. 

For a piece published Tuesday, Vikings reporter Alec Lewis of The Athletic addressed McCarthy's uncertain future. 

What is Vikings' biggest concern about J.J. McCarthy?

"The 23-year-old quarterback’s lack of availability is the team’s foremost concern," Lewis wrote about McCarthy. "McCarthy has played in 29 percent of the Vikings’ regular-season games since he was drafted in the spring of 2024. He tore a meniscus. He sprained an ankle. A concussion, along with hand and finger injuries, affected him throughout 2025, too." 

McCarthy's weight and overall size were talking points last winter after he spent his entire rookie season recovering from a full meniscus repair. He then made just 10 starts during his second pro campaign. 

"Expecting McCarthy to sustain the pounding of an entire season would be hopeful, at best," Lewis continued. "The Vikings know this. It’s a primary driver of the team’s pursuit of quarterback insurance."

Of course, it's worth noting that McCarthy's play left much to be desired when he was in the lineup. According to Pro Football Reference, he ended the 2025 regular season ranked 36th in the NFL among qualified players with a 35.6 adjusted QBR, 40th with a 72.6 passer rating and 39th with a 57.6 percent completion percentage. Over his 10 games, he tossed 11 touchdown passes and a whopping 12 interceptions. 

Could Vikings struggle to upgrade at quarterback this offseason?

Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons, Malik Willis of the Green Bay Packers and Mac Jones of the San Francisco 49ers are three quarterbacks who have been linked with the Vikings since January. It's believed all three will be looking to begin September 2026 as a QB1, although there seems to be a chance that Jones could stay with the Niners through the summer. 

"Questions about the Vikings’ opportunity tend to focus on three aspects of the team," Lewis added. "The commitment to McCarthy, the offensive line play and the run game. Until the Vikings clarify their willingness to move off of McCarthy (publicly or privately), skepticism about the likelihood of winning the job could persist."

It's unclear if Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is ready to bench McCarthy or simply wants to push the 2024 first-round draft pick via a competition for the starting job. Lewis mentioned that how the Vikings assemble their quarterback room over the next few months "will speak volumes about their belief in McCarthy." 

It sounds like the nature of that belief remains a mystery among individuals throughout the NFL.