Overview
- Coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters on Sunday that the team has a plan and a timeline to decide a Week 1 starter and wants whoever wins the job to be ready against the Packers.
- Coaches have split first‑team reps between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy during OTAs and minicamp so evaluators can compare them on equal footing.
- Murray has publicly embraced the discomfort of split reps while learning the Vikings' offense and is viewed as an early front‑office incentive because he is on a one‑year, low‑cost deal.
- Local reporting has suggested the Vikings could consider trading McCarthy for mid‑round draft compensation, with a third‑round pick cited as an example, though no trade talks have been confirmed.
- McCarthy’s uneven 2025 performance and injury history factor into the evaluation and make how the losing quarterback reacts a key concern for room cohesion and roster planning.