” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/J.J.-McCarthy-1180×667.jpg”> If you\u2019re just checking back in with Minnesota Vikings football for the 2026 campaign, know that quarterback J.J. McCarthy<\/a> has encountered a wretched offseason. The hits keep coming, and last week, one former general manager sized up rookie passer Ty Simpson<\/a>, projecting him as a career-long backup \u2014 like McCarthy.<\/p>\n It\u2019s another stray bullet for McCarthy, who, just a few days ago, caught unexpected shade when a traffic stop video with Dianna Russini insinuated that he \u201csucked.\u201d<\/p>\n ” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/J.J.-McCarthy-6-1180×642.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/J.J.-McCarthy-6.jpg” alt=”J.J. McCarthy chats with reporters during Vikings mandatory minicamp.” > Scot McCloughan: Simpson Is a Backup Like McCarthy<\/strong><\/p>\n McCloughan served as the Washington Commanders\u2019 general manager a decade ago and was the head boss for the San Francisco 49ers in the late-2000s. He said<\/a> on the Team 980 show last week, \u201cI think the quarterback from Alabama was overdrafted. But it\u2019s the position alone, you know. I think, not being a guru, but he\u2019s like J.J. McCarthy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s like former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones<\/a>. He\u2019s a career backup. Ideally, he might start, but that\u2019s because where his pick was, and they want to prove everybody right. That\u2019s not the way you should build a roster. Not at all.\u201d<\/p>\n The Los Angeles Rams drafted Simpson about two months ago to take over the QB1 baton from Matthew Stafford eventually, and McCloughan evidently thought that was a silly plan. <\/p>\n Brutal, Out-of-Nowhere Assessment<\/strong><\/p>\n McCarthy missed his first season in the pros with a torn meniscus, and after he healed, the Vikings handed him the QB1 on a silver platter without any serious competition<\/a>. The result? More injuries \u2014 about three of them \u2014 and a rollercoaster first act as the QB1. <\/p>\n But McCarthy showed marked improvement down the stretch of 2025, ranking as the NFL\u2019s sixth-best passer from Week 14 through 18 per EPA+CPOE. That momentum took a hit when Minnesota signed Kyler Murray in March, and now McCarthy will fight Murray for the same job this summer at training camp and in the preseason.<\/p>\n For McCloughan to call McCarthy a \u201cbackup\u201d is a little bizarre in the summer of 2026. He\u2019s not<\/em>, at least not yet. The guy was very clearly the Vikings\u2019 starter last year. <\/p>\n McCloughan evidently doesn\u2019t see much of a QB1 future for the youngster. <\/p>\n The Horrible Offseason<\/strong><\/p>\n McCarthy\u2019s offseason has been a whirlwind, perhaps leaving him wondering whether someone changed the locks on the building.<\/p>\n ” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_22631266-1180×787.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_22631266.jpg” alt=”Kevin O\u2019Connell speaks with reporters at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. J.J. McCarthy” > First, the general manager who drafted him is gone. That\u2019s enough to shake up any young quarterback. After spending his rookie year trying to impress the people who picked you, new leadership is suddenly in charge \u2014 the NFL business machine in full motion.<\/p>\n Then, Minnesota brought in Murray, instantly shifting McCarthy from \u201cthe future\u201d to \u201chow do you compare to him?\u201d That\u2019s a tough spot for a 23-year-old trying to quietly improve in June. The Vikings also brought back Carson Wentz<\/a>. While that move might not have caused a huge stir, it added another seasoned voice to an already crowded room.<\/p>\n And somehow, Sam Darnold, the Vikings\u2019 quarterback in 2024 when McCarthy tore his meniscus, winning a Super Bowl got mixed into this strange saga. The guy who left became a national feel-good story, and now McCarthy gets to answer questions in the glow of all that.<\/p>\n Then there was the random jab from Dianna Russini<\/a> \u2014 a bizarre, out-of-nowhere insult that seemed too weird to be true, but certainly made the rounds. Justin Jefferson has also publicly challenged all Vikings quarterbacks to step up this summer. Fair enough, but that\u2019s also a lot of pressure.<\/p>\n So, McCarthy\u2019s offseason hasn\u2019t been a walk in the park. Everywhere he has turned, there\u2019s a new hurdle, including the McCloughan observation.<\/p>\n Up to Him to Prove Everyone Wrong<\/strong><\/p>\n If McCarthy is a fiery competitor \u2014 he seems to be precisely that \u2014 he can dismantle every negative narrative and fight back at the aforementioned terrible offseason<\/a>. Minnesota has not announced a QB1 yet, and, in fact, McCarthy can control his fate and win the job outright in Eagan, starting in three weeks when training camp begins.<\/p>\n ” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/J.J.-Mccarthy-1-1-1180×644.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/J.J.-Mccarthy-1-1.jpg” alt=”J.J. McCarthy speaks to reporters after Vikings OTA practice.” > He also has an injury-prone quarterback ahead of him on the depth chart: Murray misses about 25% of all games due to injury. Even if Murray wins the QB1 job<\/a> \u2014 most fans and sportsbooks expect that to happen \u2014 McCarthy will likely get the opportunity to strut his stuff sometime during the regular season.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a pivotal year for McCarthy. He could regain his footing as the long-term franchise quarterback in Minnesota or become a trade piece by the offseason of 2027. The stakes are sky-high. <\/p>\n Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders <\/a>, is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n <\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\nFootball Vikings Training Camp Is Turning into a Confidence Test<\/h2>\n
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy addresses the media during mandatory minicamp on June 12, 2025. The 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy missed his rookie season after suffering a torn meniscus in preseason. Mandatory Credit: YouTube<\/p>\n
Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell talks to the media at the 2024 NFL Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy addresses reporters following OTA practice, May 27, 2026, at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota. McCarthy discussed the depth of Minnesota\u2019s quarterback room, offseason training work, and building chemistry with veteran quarterback Kyler Murray as the Vikings continued organized team activities during the spring program. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Football](\"https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=70,height=70,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/baker1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n