Overview
- Following a 19-17 loss to the Bears, Kevin O’Connell said McCarthy is five starts into his career and that accuracy gains must come from cleaning up his mechanics.
- McCarthy is completing 52.9% of his passes with six touchdowns and eight interceptions, and his turnover-worthy and off-target rates rank last among NFL starters, per The Athletic.
- The Vikings are 4-6 overall and 2-3 in McCarthy’s starts, with Next Gen Stats putting their playoff chances at about 5%.
- Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison publicly backed McCarthy and owned costly drops, even as one NFL coach told The Athletic, per Bleacher Report, that Minnesota’s receivers looked open and frustrated on film.
- Heavy highlighted analyst Alex Kay’s speculative case for a Kirk Cousins reunion to contend sooner, though Cousins is under contract with the Falcons through 2027 and would only be available via a deal.