Kevin O’Connell comments on QB J.J. McCarthy at the NFL Owners Meetings, and they say everything and nothing at the same time
We know that the Minnesota Vikings are going to have J.J. McCarthy in a quarterback competition this offseason, and Kevin O’Connell’s comments on his offseason are fascinating.
The Minnesota Vikings situation at the quarterback position is an interesting one. They signed Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz for the 2026 season, clouding the future of J.J. McCarthy.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke at the owners’ meetings about McCarthy’s future, and gave us some interesting details.
“It’s a healthy off-season for him. He spent his time out in California. He has since come back to Minnesota. He’s been in the in the building, working out downstairs with the with the weight of the strength guys in there with Tyler. We’ve actually had, you know, almost our entire quarterback room already spending time in the building. Guys are really hungry to get going.”
J.J. McCarthy’s offseason plans say nothing about his future
The comments about how McCarthy has handled the offseason are interesting for multiple reasons. It shows that he is doing everything he can to improve, and the important caveat that he is going through the offseason fully healthy. The other being that the entire room has been working together.
“Obviously, the rules keep us from, you know, simulating what we’ll be able to do when the off-season program starts. But I think J.J. just had a really good offseason. I think he’s got perspective. Now, after those 10 games, albeit we would love to be talking about 30-plus games of starting, he definitely has experience. He knows what it’s felt like to go in there and do some things at a really high level. Now, it’s just about consistency and being in a competitive situation, not for necessarily for any other reason to continue the arc of trying to become the best player he can possibly become. And I think he’s going to have a really good offseason. I think it’s going to be a very competitive situation.”
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell
The idea of a competitive quarterback room has been a constant message from the Vikings throughout the offseason, and that has continued here. Will there be a real competition? That remains to be seen, but it’s good to see that the messaging hasn’t changed.
At the end of the day, O’Connell’s comments both mean everything and absolutely nothing at the same time. McCarthy is working hard and will be involved in the training camp competition.
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