Updated Vikings QB depth chart after J.J. McCarthy's season-ending injury

The Minnesota Vikings were planning on entering the 2024 season with Sam Darnold as the starting quarterback in Week 1 against the New York Giants and No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy watching and learning before he takes over. After just one preseason game, that plan has already gone up in smoke.

McCarthy will miss the entire 2024 season due to a knee injury suffered during his preseason debut against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Vikings were already considered relative longshots to make it to the postseason, and this loss makes the short and long-term future much darker.

The current quarterback depth chart isn't exactly Steve Young backing up Joe Montana. Be it through another trade or free agency acquisition, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could look to bring in one more noteworthy name to accentuate what the Vikings have behind Darnold.

Updated Minnesota Vikings QB depth chart after J.J. McCarthy injury

QB1: Sam Darnold

Originally thought to be a bridge quarterback who would move to the bench when McCarthy was ready, Sam Darnold will now take center stage. After busting with the Jets, struggling with the Panthers, and becoming a wholly unimpressive backup with the 49ers, the former No. 3 overall pick has one last shot to be a success as a starter.

Darnold has always had solid arm talent and a penchant for making plays on the move, both of which will serve him well in a Kevin O'Connell offense. With a high-end receiving corps featuring Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and tight end T.J. Hockenson, Darnold has all the tools needed to thrive.

QB2: Nick Mullens

An oddly high-risk, high-reward backup, Nick Mullens had some very productive stints in San Francisco before making his way to Minnesota. Mullens is going to turn it over, as he has 31 career picks despite starting just 20 games. However, he also has 34 touchdown passes in that span.

Mullens will take some risks, and his 5-15 record as a starter isn't glamorous, but he'll get the ball where it needs to go. If the Vikings decide not to add anyone new to the roster, Mullens, who was once thought to be a cut candidate, should be the favorite for the backup job and a possible Darnold replacement if he falters.

QB3: Jaren Hall

No one has doubted Jaren Hall's athleticism and cannon of a right arm. However, there's a reason the BYU product slid as far as he did in the 2023 NFL Draft. The finer points of quarterback play, namely processing in the pocket and fitting the ball into tight windows, can often trip Hall up.

An undersized player, Hall needs to light it up in the preseason for O'Connell and the Vikings to feel confident enough to both eschew making other additions and make him the backup over Mullens. If he can't prove himself, he may be relegated to another year of hanging out on the sidelines in sweatpants.

More Vikings News and Analysis