The Minnesota Vikings had high expectations heading into this season after coming up one win short of earning the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed in 2024. The quarterback reins were handed over to 2024 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy, who was lost for his rookie year after tearing the meniscus in his right knee during the preseason opener. A spending spree took place in free agency where upgrading the offensive line (offensive guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly) and interior of the defensive line (Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave) were the priorities.
Despite McCarthy’s lack of game experience, he only took 12 offensive snaps in the 2025 preseason. By contrast 2024’s 12th overall pick, Bo Nix, who was on the field for 98.73% of the Denver Broncos’ offensive plays in 2024, was under center for 40 preseason snaps.
The 2025 season has been disappointing for a variety of reasons. A big issue is the drop-off at quarterback from Sam Darnold, who earned Pro Bowl honors last season. Outside of producing three fourth-quarter touchdowns during a 27-24 comeback win over the Chicago Bears in the regular-season opener, McCarthy struggled in the two games he played before suffering a high right ankle sprain. In the other seven quarters McCarthy has played this season, he has completed 55% of his passes for 214 yards while committing four turnovers and taking nine sacks.
Carson Wentz, who was signed late in the preseason to back up McCarthy after Sam Howell was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, was inconsistent while going 2-3 in five starts. McCarthy is set to return to the lineup for Week 9’s game versus the Detroit Lions with Wentz going on injured reserve because of a season-ending injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder. McCarthy has been the emergency quarterback for Minnesota’s last two games. In order to be the emergency quarterback, McCarthy had to be medically cleared to play. This prompted…
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