J.J. McCarthy is sticking around in Minnesota.
Despite rumblings that suggested McCarthy could be cut or traded by Sunday's 6 p.m. ET roster deadline, the former first-round pick made the Vikings' initial 53-man roster.
McCarthy entered Minnesota's 2026 training camp with a chance to compete with new acquisition Kyler Murray for the starting job, but never managed to make the battle interesting. Coach Kevin O'Connell didn't drag out the process, naming Murray the starter just two weeks into camp while promising to continue working with McCarthy in his development and preparation.
As preseason progressed, reports suggested Minnesota might move McCarthy to an interested suitor (i.e., the Los Angeles Chargers, led by McCarthy's collegiate coach, Jim Harbaugh) by the end of the month. With Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer also on the roster, McCarthy could have understandably become the odd man out.
Instead, the Vikings have opted to carry four quarterbacks for now, joining the Eagles and Steelers in keeping four signal-callers.
McCarthy's Vikings journey has been nothing but tumultuous. After a promising preseason debut as a rookie, McCarthy underwent season-ending knee surgery, opening the door for Sam Darnold to start and produce a career-best year. One season later, McCarthy began as the team's starter but struggled with injuries throughout most of his second campaign, informing the Vikings of their need for reliability at the position entering 2026.
Minnesota acted accordingly, moving quickly to sign Murray after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals and setting up a competition that never quite felt like a true battle between Murray and McCarthy.
For now, McCarthy will continue as Murray's understudy. We'll see if that changes in the days ahead.
