Kevin O'Connell discusses Kyler Murray concern after J.J. McCarthy decision

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell seemingly has no regrets about naming free-agent signing Kyler Murray the team's Week 1 starting quarterback over 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy ahead of Minnesota's preseason opener at the New York Giants on Aug. 15. 

That said, multiple reporters who have watched Vikings practices have noted that Murray and Blake Brandel have endured some issues regarding center-quarterback exchanges. On Wednesday, O'Connell didn't dance around how important it is for the Vikings that Murray and Brandel are on the same page once the games begin to matter.

Vikings' Kyler Murray-Blake Brandel snap problems "cannot continue to be an issue"

"[Murray and Brandel] got to practice it, and that’s where we have time, but not that much time, as I like to say. We’ve got to acknowledge it, and then you’ll see, hopefully, center-quarterback exchange for the next two weeks," O'Connell said, per Eduardo Razo of Heavy. "We’re only working those things to make sure we can continue to identify as new things come about in our offense or new techniques in the run or pass phase that stress Blake. We can practice those enough so he gets that thousand-rep rule, and we can lock those in because those are critical… Blake’s had a really good camp. For sure, the quarterback-center exchange is something that we’re going to continue to harp on and make sure we get corrected. As there’s many things throughout training camp where, when there’s an issue, we got to fix it. It cannot continue to be an issue." 

While Murray is trying to resurrect his career with the Vikings, McCarthy may enter the regular season as the club's QB3 behind veteran Carson Wentz. There's no indication O'Connell has any desire to turn back to McCarthy before Minnesota's Week 1 game against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 13, but the coach nevertheless will need Murray and Brandel to get much more comfortable with each other over the next few weeks. 

Vikings passing game not causing "grave concern"

Per Andrew Krammer, Emily Leiker and Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune, Murray and the Minnesota offense struggled during Wednesday's joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens. However, Vikings reporter Alec Lewis of The Athletic suggested that fans should expect the Minnesota offense to be a work in progress as players get used to Murray being the first-choice quarterback. 

"The best way to sum up the afternoon? The passing game felt a bit off during its first true test against another defense," Lewis wrote about the Vikings' performance on Wednesday. "This shouldn’t be a surprise. Nor is it worth grave concern."

Concern will grow, however, if Murray and Co. look the same in the days leading up to the Packers game.