JJ McCarthy had the most embarrassing missed throw of preseason

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

JJ McCarthy had the most embarrassing missed throw of preseason

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Aug 22, 2026 6:43 PM ET

JJ McCarthy is not exactly inspiring a lot of confidence in his ability to reclaim the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback job.

McCarthy made one of the most embarrassing throws of the preseason to date during the first quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. On 4th and goal, the Vikings drew up a perfect play, and McCarthy had Myles Price wide open in the end zone for an easy touchdown.

There was just one problem: McCarthy airmailed the throw.

JJ McCarthy misses Myles Price WIDE OPEN in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/Ix8VJrEPTe
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 22, 2026

This is, of course, a slam dunk touchdown that any NFL-quality quarterback should be able to make with relative ease. He is not under much pressure and there is nobody near Price. All he really has to do is make the connection, but he could not do it.

The Vikings had already named Kyler Murray as their No. 1 quarterback for Week 1, having beaten out McCarthy in a training camp competition. Throws like these are precisely why McCarthy failed to win the job for himself.

McCarthy still has some believers among NFL front offices. That is presumably still true, but whoever works with him, be it the Vikings or another team, has a lot of work to do.

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