Hold up, did you catch the news out of Minnesota? J.J. McCarthy, that guy they picked 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, isn’t even the backup quarterback for Week 1. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Wednesday that 33-year-old Carson Wentz will be backing up starter Kyler Murray against the Green Bay Packers. Yeah, you read that right: McCarthy is the third-stringer. That’s a massive tumble for a former top-10 pick.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: McCarthy’s 2025 Season Was a Wreck
Why the demotion, you ask? It’s simple, and it’s ugly: his play in 2025. McCarthy finished *dead last* in the NFL for completion rate, hitting only 57.6%. Think about that for a second. Last in the league! His touchdown-to-interception ratio was a brutal 11-12, also worst in the league. And that passer rating? A dismal 72.6. Seriously, the numbers are screaming red flags. CBS Sports Research even dropped a bombshell, noting that McCarthy is the *only* first-round quarterback since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger to finish last in both completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio in his debut season. That’s not the kind of history you want to make.
From Franchise Faith to Third Stringer, Fast
It feels like just yesterday the Vikings let Pro Bowl quarterback Sam Darnold walk in free agency, banking on McCarthy to be their guy. They put all their faith in that 10th overall pick from Michigan. Now, in September 2026, he’s barely active on game day. O’Connell might say the backup QB spot is “week-to-week,” but let’s be real, the Wednesday announcement makes it pretty clear where the coach stands. It’s obvious O’Connell is done with him. How else do you explain a top-10 pick being relegated to the bench before his second season even fully kicks off?
A Glimmer of Hope (Maybe?) Amidst the Mess
Now, don’t write off McCarthy seeing the field entirely in 2026. Both Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz have quite the injury history. Murray missed 30 out of 68 possible games from 2022 to 2025, and Wentz hasn’t hit double-digit starts since 2022. So, injuries could open a door. But even if he plays, the hope for the Vikings isn’t that he becomes their franchise guy. It’s that he plays well enough to get “flipped for a Day 3 draft pick.” That’s the cold hard truth. The season opener against the Green Bay Packers is just around the corner, and McCarthy’s career in Minnesota is hanging by a thread before the first snap. What a brutal start to the season for an ex-top 10 pick.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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