Why Vikings' J.J. McCarthy's demotion to QB3 was not 'a big surprise at all'

McCarthy completed a below-average 57.6% of his throws last season and accounted for more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11). He followed that up by going just 9-of-17 in the preseason, missing multiple wide-open receivers in the process.

Granted, he was sacked 27 times and did not have the most consistent protection at times, but McCarthy’s injury history and poor performance forced the Vikings’ hand over the offseason when they signed Murray to a one-year deal in March. Combine that with the decision to re-sign the veteran Wentz, and it speaks volumes regarding how far McCarthy has fallen in his brief NFL career.

Sure, Wentz came out of the gates strong with at least 3,000 passing yards in each of his first four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, including the 2017 season when he passed for 33 TDs before a season-ending injury paved the way for Nick Foles to step in and lead Philadelphia to its first Super Bowl.

That said, Wentz was only 2-3 as a starter last season with the Vikings after serving as a backup for the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs the two years prior. Murray, meanwhile, missed the majority of the 2025 season with the Arizona Cardinals due to a foot injury and still has a lot to prove as the 2019 first overall pick.

As disappointing as it must be for McCarthy, Schefter believes it is best for all parties involved if the Vikings keep him around until potentially exploring other options.

“J.J. McCarthy’s already said he doesn’t want to be traded, wants to be in Minnesota this year, and it’s probably best for both sides to spend the year together before they explore a divorce,” Schefter said. “It’s not an ideal marriage this season in Minnesota, but they’re sort of stuck with each other for the time being.”

Wherever McCarthy ends up, this is just the latest sign of how much of a bust he has turned out to be for the Vikings. He has the intangibles and championship pedigree from his time at Michigan, but a demotion to QB3 is a sign that his stint with the Vikings could be short-lived.