In a big picture sense, the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback situation has not gone as planned this season. J.J. McCarthy missed significant time due to an ankle injury, and when he has been available he has largely struggled thus far.
Regardless of how the rest of this season goes, the Vikings are lined up to add an experienced quarterback behind McCarthy during the offseason. The level of that addition will say a lot about how McCarthy is viewed heading toward the 2026 season.
In recent weeks, ESPN NFL insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have both raised the possibility of the Vikings reuniting with Daniel Jones as his one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts winds down. Jones' season-ending Achilles tear was added to the equation in between, with Graziano's sentiment coming after the injury.
"It would make sense for him to go back to Minnesota...and rehab there with a staff that knows him and wanted to retain him but couldn't guarantee him the starting job this past offseason," Graziano wrote. Either way, the idea of a lucrative, long-term contract extension in Indianapolis (or somewhere else) probably slides to the back burner in light of Jones' most recent season-ending injury."
As Graziano noted, Jones landed with the Vikings after the New York Giants released him last season. He never played in a game for the Purple, but it's clear his time in Minnesota was the career reset he needed.
Buzz about a Minnesota Vikings-Daniel Jones reunion is not going away (yet)
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports is the latest NFL insider to take a look at Jones' future with the Colts in the wake of his Achilles' tear. While the Colts would presumably like to have him back, the $40 million cost of the franchise tag could be prohibitive in the wake of the injury. A multi-year deal could be in play, but the Colts might be (understandably) hesitant to do that.
"I think what's clear is Jones will want the best situation for himself, from contract to front office to coach to roster. That very well could be in Indy with either the tag or a contract. If the Colts don't tag him, it's possible he becomes a free agent."
"The best situation may present itself somewhere outside of Indianapolis. In that case, multiple sources have pointed to Minnesota as being a potential landing spot."
"Jones picked the Vikings after his release from the Giants, and J.J. McCarthy has played so poorly it is clear Minnesota will need some quarterback insurance next year regardless of how he finishes the year."
Jones may not be cleared for contact until sometime during training camp, and his performance level immediately post-Achilles tear will be a question mark. So if he hits the open market and the Vikings sign him, how legit a candidate would he be to take the starting job from McCarthy? Or would he just be a cosmetic "hey look, we added someone to push J.J." move?
Some things seem to tilt it toward the unlikely. But when not one, not two, but three NFL insiders are tying the Vikings to a potential reunion with Jones this offseason, the possibility it will happen is hard to ignore.