The future for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy right now is simple: he is set to miss the preseason finale against the Denver Broncos. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport spoke on McCarthy before the Vikings take the field, and gave an update about his future. Simply put: the Vikings won’t just give him away.

“It’s really just does a team step up and say, ‘This is a player we want in our roster, and we are willing to give a draft pick that is enough for the Vikings to consider.’ Right at that point, they would have a decision to make. The other part of this thing here is, as far as I know, there’s no trade in the works,” said Rapoport. “As far as I know, J.J. McCarthy has not requested a trade at all, and there is a line of thinking where he would benefit from being in Kevin O’Connell’s system, continuing to learn, and if he ever plays, would be in better position in Minnesota to play than anywhere else.”

J.J. McCarthy’s status with Vikings remains unknown

Rapaport finished up his spot on NFL Network saying that, “I think it’s fair to say it’s to be determined on where J.J. McCarthy is next.” That shouldn’t be much of a surprise after how things have shaped out over the last few months.

McCarthy hasn’t been in the best situation with the Vikings since the end of the 2025 season, one in which he struggled mightily throughout. Now that he won’t play in the preseason finale, there’s a chance that he doesn’t play another snap in Minnesota.

Now, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert spoke about a McCarthy trade, and confirmed they won’t give him away.

Trading J.J. McCarthy can't be ruled out, but from everything I know, the situation isn't urgent, dire or toxic enough for the Vikings to just give him away. We shall see how the next few days play out. https://t.co/WMYgHvsRWA

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 28, 2026

The next few days will be revealing for the future of the Vikings and McCarthy, and we don’t know what direction it will go.