Vikings just got another sign that J.J. McCarthy isn't getting better

Despite losing the QB1 battle to Kyler Murray earlier this month (as expected), Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy still had a great opportunity in front of him to go and light up the stat sheet against second and third-team defenses in the preseason.

Well, after Minnesota's two preseason matchups this summer, McCarthy's development as a signal-caller appears to be moving in the wrong direction, especially in the Vikings' exhibition loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

The play that really stands out as a perfect symbol for McCarthy's lack of progress during his time with Minnesota came on a 4th-and-Goal on Baltimore's one-yard line on Saturday.

After getting the snap, Vikings receiver Myles Price found himself wide open on the right side of the end zone, and instead of giving his pass-catcher an easy ball to haul in, McCarthy rifled one of his trademark piss missiles over Price's head for an incompletion.

Later on in the game, the Ravens' offense found themselves in a similar situation, facing a 3rd-and-5 from Minnesota's eight-yard line. But unlike McCarthy, Baltimore's undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano dropped a simple pass into the hands of Ravens receiver LaJohntay Wester for an easy touchdown.

That's right, an undrafted rookie, who spent his college career playing at powerhouses Maine and UConn, was able to complete what should be a routine pass at this point in McCarthy's tenure with the Vikings.

Yes, it's one play, and yes, it's in the preseason. But how many times do we have to make the same excuses for McCarthy?

In his third year with Minnesota, he shouldn't struggle with a throw that an undrafted rookie on the other sideline can complete with ease.

What should the Minnesota Vikings do with J.J. McCarthy?

For some, the easy solution for the Vikings would be to trade McCarthy. Minnesota likely wouldn't get anything significant for him in return, but do they even care at this point?

Given McCarthy's age, 23-years-old, keeping him around to see if something finally clicks and heads in the right direction for him is another option.

Based on what we've seen from him out on the field in his career so far, though, hoping for something to magically go right seems like something only an insane person would waste their time doing right now.

If someone were able to get Kevin O'Connell to be 100 percent honest and not deliver a response that's just an overflowing bowl of word salad, it doesn't seem crazy to think that he would probably just like the Vikings to cut McCarthy.

Cut their losses, wash their hands, and just move on.

But the fear of McCarthy somehow pulling off a miracle and turning into the next Sam Darnold is likely what will prevent Minnesota from doing that this summer.

Instead, we'll just be fed more fake explanations from O'Connell about why McCarthy will be the No. 2 quarterback to open the regular season, and then when it comes time for the Vikings to take the field in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, the guy who the team drafted 10th overall in 2024 won't even be active for the matchup.

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