Overview
- Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Wednesday that Kyler Murray will start and Carson Wentz will serve as the active backup, officially moving J.J. McCarthy to the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.
- O’Connell described the alignment as a week-to-week decision and said McCarthy will continue to receive developmental reps and can still earn a higher role.
- Team insiders and reporters say Minnesota declined to cut or trade McCarthy before the season largely because the club would face roughly $4.85 million in guaranteed pay if they released him.
- A CBA rule that bars renegotiating a drafted player’s contract in the first three seasons has limited the Vikings’ ability to ‘eat’ salary or restructure McCarthy’s deal to facilitate a trade.
- Analysts view McCarthy as a likely trade candidate if circumstances change, but his uneven 2025 performance, injury history and the guaranteed money have reduced his immediate market value and playing chances.