The starting quarterback position in Minnesota is J.J. McCarthy’s to lose.
Despite strong backing from the Vikings organization, the 22-year-old will be under close scrutiny as he heads into his first offseason as the team’s presumed starter. If McCarthy falters in the upcoming offseason practices, some doubts about starting him could arise.
The key question surrounding McCarthy may not be settled until later this summer. Until he’s officially locked in as the Vikings’ Week 1 starter, there’s speculation that someone else is still hoping for an opening in Minnesota.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Aaron Rodgers is still keeping an eye on the Vikings’ situation while weighing his next move.
“There are some teams who think he might be waiting to see what happens with the Vikings,” Fowler said on the May 21 episode of The Dan Patrick Show. “It would be a great fit — Kevin O’Connell is one of the top play callers in the league, and you’d get nine dome games a year.”
However, Fowler noted that the Vikings are proceeding with McCarthy as their starter and are not expected to pursue Rodgers. That leaves Rodgers with limited options — either look to Pittsburgh or consider retirement.
As Rodgers watches from the sidelines, the Vikings will see how McCarthy handles this critical stretch.
McCarthy showed promise last year, competing with Sam Darnold for the starting role and delivering a solid preseason debut with 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in a win against the Raiders. He was slated for first-team reps against the Browns in joint practices, but a meniscus tear ended his season prematurely.
During his rookie year, McCarthy focused on studying the game and is now working on refining his mechanics and syncing his physical tools with his mental preparation.
Whether he’s ready for Week 1 will depend on how he performs in the coming weeks. If the Vikings decide to hold him back for development, Sam Howell is next in line, followed by Brett Rypien.
Still, until Rodgers makes a definitive move, the door on that possibility might not fully close.