There's a lot of uncertainty about the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback position behind newly named starter Kyler Murray.
After J.J. McCarthy lost the starting job, there were questions about what his future looked like in Minnesota. Since then, McCarthy has mostly taken second-team reps with the Vikings in practice and preseason games. He might not have that job quite intact yet, though.
This week has changed the conversation for McCarthy, though, as reports out of training camp are that Carson Wentz has been splitting QB2 reps with him. Now the biggest question is what McCarthy's role will look like entering their preseason finale against the Denver Broncos.
Plan for J.J. McCarthy's role in Minnesota Vikings preseason finale was revealed
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell spoke with the media on Wednesday to give updates on the roster in their last practice before training camp officially ends. O'Connell shared that McCarthy will not practice due to the ankle injury, but will be involved in the Broncos game.
"He's gotten some work. We kind of split the reps yesterday just to not overload him. And with hopes of, you know, all along, really wanted him to, you know, be able to start this final preseason game. And we'll work off of that if we can. We feel good about getting him those really important reps."
O'Connell also mentioned that he anticipates Wentz playing in the game as well. He did not reveal for how long, as it appears to be a wait-and-see type of situation for the Vikings,
It has not been a good preseason for McCarthy, completing 52.9 percent of his passes (the lowest of the four Vikings quarterbacks) for 115 yards.
Wentz, on the other hand, has by far been the most efficient quarterback in the last two games, leading the team in completion rate (72 percent), passing yards (173), and is the only QB to throw a touchdown.
Last season, McCarthy completed 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. He added 181 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 10 games. While he went 6-4 on the season, he faced a ton of criticism for his performance earlier in the year.
This might end up being one of McCarthy's most important games of his career, with so much riding on his performance. A good game could save his job or at least increase his trade value. If he plays poorly, anything is on the table, including him falling into the third-string job.
The upcoming Broncos preseason game could be one that many Vikings fans watch, as it could be the last one McCarthy plays ever, or at least the last one he plays in for a long time as Murray's backup. A lot could change in the next week, though.
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