Through two weeks of training camp, the Minnesota Vikings may or may not be close to naming a starting quarterback. Kyler Murray has received more reps with the first team than J.J. McCarthy has, but the ups and downs of both guys have been clear to those who have observed practice.
McCarthy, quite simply, is running out of time to outdo Murray in the fashion he has to in order to win the job. So the general expectation, still, is Murray will be named the Vikings' Week 1 starter. Everyone, all the way up to head coach Kevin O'Connell, knows the sooner that declaration is made, the better.
A chunk of the reporting on the Vikings' quarterback battle shifts based solely on what happened that day in practice. One day, Murray is the clear frontrunner. The next, as was the case after the team's practice on Sunday night, McCarthy is making it interesting despite some of his own struggles he can't totally shake.
The situation is great content fodder, but when will it be over?
Latest on Vikings' QB situation means Kevin O'Connell is executing his plan
Before Sunday's night practice, after previously suggesting the battle could go all the way to the start of the season, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport changed his tune to say Murray is the favorite to be the Vikings' starting quarterback.
O'Connell says he has a not-yet-revealed timeline to name a starting quarterback. Common sense says it'll be sometime around joint practices and the second preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, but who knows?
During his appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter took his turn offering insight into the Vikings' quarterback situation.
"They have been determined to have this play out in the preseason,” Schefter said.
After talking about the night practice where neither Murray nor McCarthy truly differentiated themselves. Schefter added, “I don’t know that they’re prepared right now to say that one quarterback has distinguished themselves to win that job.”
Schefter then suggested the battle could go well into the preseason before a starter is named.
“I think in a perfect world, what you’d like to do, maybe, is give each guy one start, with the starting offense and the starting offensive line, and then make that decision by the third game and have that guy run the offense as a dress rehearsal for the regular season opener. But it doesn’t sound like they are ready to declare a winner now. I do think it’s going to play out into training camp and into the latter part of this month.”
Schefter did offer the obvious idea the Week 1 starter, whoever it is, might not be the starter all season if he struggles. But the bottom line has been further confirmed.
O'Connell is being careful in his effort to assure everyone this has been, and will continue to be until he's good and ready to name someone, a legit competition for the starting job. Based on the reports we're getting right now, virtually day-to-day, it's mission accomplished, as it appears no one truly knows anything definite.
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