Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Wednesday that Carson Wentz has been named the team's backup quarterback, demoting rookie J.J. McCarthy to third string. This decision places McCarthy behind starter Kyler Murray and Wentz on the depth chart.
O’Connell stated that this arrangement provides the team with the best opportunity to win on Sunday and indicated that the backup quarterback position will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. The move comes after McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, lost the starting job to free-agent acquisition Murray during training camp. McCarthy also missed the Vikings' preseason finale with an ankle injury.
In his first season as a starter in 2025, McCarthy played in 10 games, recording 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He missed his entire rookie year due to a torn meniscus.
Wentz is entering his second season with the Vikings. Last year, he started five games in place of McCarthy, completing 65.1 percent of his passes for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.
Despite the change in depth chart, O’Connell expressed continued confidence in McCarthy's development. "He's still a guy that's only played 10 games," O’Connell said last month, referring to McCarthy. "He’s shown improvement off of last year. Even in this training camp with the work he’s put in and his comfort level, just growing a little bit day in and day out. Very excited to continue to get to work with him every single day and coach him."
McCarthy himself has maintained his belief in his abilities, stating, "Yes, I believe so. And I’m always gonna have that confidence in myself, no matter what. But at this time it’s doing whatever I can for the team, and, you know, being ready when my number’s called. And that’s all that matters, that’s all I can control."