Things are already weird at Minnesota Vikings OTAs. The battle at quarterback will be one to watch all summer, and it only took two days before we got the first peek behind the curtain.
On the field, J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray played well during Wednesday’s media-open session. Off the field, the duo seems to be in very different headspaces.
After practice, McCarthy did away with his usual chipper demeanor. Instead, he remained resigned and occasionally brutally straightforward with his comments. When asked about the addition of Murray, McCarthy didn’t paint a picture of butterflies and roses, and made it somewhat clear he was less than thrilled to add the former No. 1-overall pick to the room.
“Look, the organization made a decision that they feel like is going to improve the depth and the quality of the room,” McCarthy said. “It’s just like two guys in a classroom. He sits on one side. I sit on the other side. And it’s the coaches’ responsibility to teach us and coach us.”
McCarthy’s interpretation isn’t too far off from how I introduced my dog and infant child for the first time. Meanwhile, Murray seemed to be enjoying his vacation away from the Arizona Cardinals’ dysfunction. He was much more positive about the pair’s relationship.
“It’s been great,” said Murray. “Obviously, he’s a younger guy, so any way I can help him, I feel like I played seven years going on eight. I’m considered a veteran even though I don’t see myself as that. Giving him any knowledge he needs.”
Murray acted like a guy who has been there, done that, and got the T-shirt. Meanwhile, McCarthy was … not like J.J. McCarthy. So is that a good thing, a bad thing, or nothing?
Having a more focused McCarthy couldn’t hurt. Kevin O’Connell has occasionally hinted that those types of things were an issue. It’s not like he wasn’t a competitor before Murray came to town, but maybe it really has changed something in him. The young quarterback has already experienced adversity through injury and subpar play, but this spring feels different.
Of course, his perceived peeved off mood on Wednesday could have been anything, from a sleepless night with a toddler, to a botched McDonald’s breakfast order. Everyone has those days. But his comments, especially referring to Murray as “the guy sitting across from him in a classroom,” just felt odd, and far from his usual upbeat tone.
Still, it would almost be weirder if things weren’t weird. If McCarthy came out and said that he loves Murray being in Minnesota and can’t wait to show him his favorite Thai food spot, it’d be more alarming. The fact is that McCarthy isn’t thrilled to have to re-earn his job, and no one else would feel any differently than him in that position.
The simplest explanation for McCarthy’s disposition, and the one that most tend to already agree upon, is that Murray likely has the starting job locked up despite claims of a true competition. His talent and experience are evident already. McCarthy would need to be better than he was in 2025 and better than Murray. That’s a tough hurdle to clear.
Landing with the Vikings, a team ready to compete, has been a blessing and a curse for McCarthy. His opportunities for success were much more immediate, but he had less room for error. Injuries haven’t helped, and now his chances to start again in Minnesota may hinge upon someone else.
Murray hasn’t been the picture of health either, and despite Arizona’s issues, the organization paid him $30 million to hit the road this offseason. But despite the Cardinals moving on from him, Murray looked calm, cool, and collected this week. Does he have a gentleman’s agreement to be the starter? Possibly, but he doesn’t seem too concerned with how things might play out.
Minnesota’s quarterback battle is just getting started, and so is the mental game that goes with it. Both players surely feel slighted, and they will use that fuel to their advantage. To say that it’s good or bad for the competition is probably irrelevant, but there’s no question this offseason will be unlike any other for the Vikings, who – oh, yeah – still don’t have a general manager.
Anyway, it’s only May, and the Vikings probably won’t name a starter until July or later, which really makes you think the NFL messed up by not putting this team on Hard Knocks this year.
