Last weekend, J.J. McCarthy got the start under center for the Minnesota Vikings in the team's 2025 preseason opener against the Houston Texans. McCarthy wasn't on the field for very long in the exhibition win over the Texans, and he'll have even fewer snaps in Minnesota's next preseason matchup against the New England Patriots on Saturday.
Following the team's joint practice with the Patriots on Thursday, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell revealed that McCarthy will not be playing in the team's preseason contest against New England this weekend.
With Minnesota sitting out its No. 1 quarterback this weekend, Sam Howell will get the start for the purple and gold. Howell will likely get a solid amount of snaps against the Patriots before the Vikings give fellow reserve quarterbacks Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer some time on the field.
Have we seen the last of Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy this preseason?
Now that the Vikings have decided to sit McCarthy for their second preseason game, it seems like there's a good chance that we won't see him suit up for another game until the team's regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears on September 8th.
Last year, Sam Darnold appeared in Minnesota's opening preseason game and then remained on the sideline for the team's other two exhibition matchups before enter the 2024 season as the Vikings' starting quarterback.
Based on Thursday's announcement, one would assume that the Vikings are likely taking the same approach with McCarthy.
It's possible that O'Connell might switch things up this time around, given McCarthy's lack of in-game experience in the NFL, but the best bet would still be on the young signal-caller not playing in the team's final 2025 preseason game either.
Saturday's exhibition matchup against New England will also be the last time Minnesota plays a game inside U.S. Bank Stadium until the team's second game of the regular season on September 14th against the Atlanta Falcons. Hopefully, McCarthy and the Vikings will be heading into that showdown with a 1-0 record.