J.J. McCarthy is the Vikings' backup QB for now

The Vikings continue to list J.J. McCarthy as the backup to Kyler Murray. The question is: Will it stay that way?

“What I would say is this: I did mean that in regards to the question of is he [the backup] is that he has taken all the two reps in practice and he’s done really well,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday, via video from VikingzFanPage. “You think about from the time we made that announcement until now, there’s been some plays where I’ve been proud as heck. . . . There’s been some really good stuff. But I want those guys feeling like they’re competing.

“The philosophy around making our quarterback room competitive and allow that to rise to the standard of not only our team but our offense. . . . I know you guys would roll your eyes every time I mentioned Carson [Wentz] and Max [Brosmer‘s] names throughout the offseason as part of it, but they’re part of it. That’s what we want throughout that quarterback room. We want Carson feeling like he can do the things consistently that he can do, that we know exactly who and what he is, and we want J.J. feeling like I’m one step away, and I have to prepare like the starter anyway. It’s easy to say those things, but we wanted to have a room that forced it. We’ll see these next couple of weeks play out. We’re going to do what’s best for our team. Proud of the way J.J.’s handled the last few days. Thought Carson did some good things in the game. I wish we could have gotten Max more time, but hopefully that can come here through these next two preseason games.”

McCarthy lost the quarterback job to Murray, leaving him to compete with Wentz and Brosmer for the backup job.

The 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft played 17 snaps in the preseason opener against the Giants, McCarthy completed 4 of 7 passes for 34 yards. The Vikings scored no points in his three drives.