Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings will play their first preseason game of the 2026 season on Saturday, at U.S. Bank Stadium, against the New York Giants. How much of the game Kyler Murray and JJ McCarthy will play this weekend is still TBD.
Of course, now that Murray has officially been named the starter, the upcoming preseason games will be about getting him more comfortable with the first team offense, then getting McCarthy as many reps as humanly possible.
But will this preseason be the final time we see the highest-drafted QB in MN Vikings history wearing a purple and gold uniform?
On Tuesday, after he named Kyler QB1, head coach Kevin O’Connell made it extremely clear to anyone listening that McCarthy will continue to play a vital role for the 2026 Vikings, and beyond.
Adam Schefter throws gasoline on JJ McCarthy trade rumors
Outside of TCO Performance Center, however, rumors that Minnesota could trade their 23-year-old former National Champ are already running amuck. And on Wednesday’s episode of Get Up, top NFL insider (and fellow Michigan Man), Adam Schefter, did absolutely nothing to squash the McCarthy trade buzz.
In fact, he did the exact opposite. When asked what’s next for McCarthy, Schefter told his colleagues at ESPN this morning that, “it certainly feels like his days in Minnesota are now numbered.”
Yes, that is fellow Michigan alum and senior ESPN NFL insider @AdamSchefter saying “it certainly feels like [JJ McCarthy’s] days in Minnesota are now numbered…” this morning on @GetUpESPN… 👀 pic.twitter.com/9nuNAZRX6O
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) August 12, 2026
“It certainly feels like his days in Minnesota are now numbered. And we’ve seen other quarterbacks get benched and respond to it… we’ve seen other quarterbacks get benched… and be done with that organization.
We’ll see how this unfolds now for JJ McCarthy, the former 10th overall pick in the Draft… If he is going to move on from Minnesota, he is going to get another chance somewhere else. We’ll see whether or not that happens this season.
Adam Schefter – Get Up (ESPN)
Related: Kyler Murray Immediately Rewards Vikings for Naming Him Starter
Obviously, there is going to be a ton of speculation, as it relates to JJ McCarthy’s future for as long as he and Kyler Murray are on the same roster.
Schefter believes that — if Murray plays well — the Minnesota Vikings will find a way to sign him to an extension before he is thrown back into free agency next offseason.
After Sam Darnold got away, insiders around the NFL find it hard to believe they’ll make the same mistake with Kyler. Of course, this isn’t the same situation and Murray is a much different type of quarterback. But that is for another article.
Where might the Minnesota Vikings trade McCarthy?
Where could JJ McCarthy land, if the Vikings do move on from their former first round pick? The most obvious landing spot — as Schefter and the Get Up crew discussed this morning — is Los Angeles with the Chargers and his former college, Jim Harbaugh.
Obviously, that would mean sitting behind their unquestioned QB1, Justin Herbert. But while LA may be a soft landing spot for McCarthy, does it really make more sense to sit behind Herbert than it would Kyler Murray? Yes (keep reading). However, should Herbert sustain some sort of injury this season…
One place that would make sense doesn’t have an opening at this time and that would be in Los Angeles with Jim Harbaugh, behind Justin Herbert. Justin Herbert could be one injury away from the Chargers calling the Vikings and saying, ‘Hey, what would it take to get JJ McCarthy?’”
Adam Schefter – Get Up (ESPN)
If we assume Herbert remains healthy, would requesting a trade to the Chargers really be in JJ’s best NFL interest? It’s not a secret that Kyler Murray has struggled to stay on the football field throughout his NFL career.
Only one time (2024) over his past five seasons has the 2019 No. 1 overall pick played every game of the Cardinals’ regular season. The 29-year-old, 2x Pro Bowler played just eight games in 2023 and only five games last season.
Herbert, 28, has missed one game in the past two seasons and he’s sat out just six games total, during his six-year NFL career. Of the 101 regular season games the Chargers have played since drafting Herbert 6th overall in 2020, he’s been under center for 95 of them.
Some advice for Minnesota’s backup quarterback…
Unless JJ McCarthy wants to pout his way out of town as a sore loser, the best decision he could make for his NFL career is to accept his situation in Minnesota. If he sticks it out with the Vikings, there is a better than 50% chance he sees the field in 2026.
So his best bet would be to honorably take his QB2 seat behind Murray and use this moment to prove he can be an elite teammate, no matter the circumstance. Then, when his number is ultimately called again — be ready and take advantage.
Related: KOC Explains Vikings’ QB Decision; Answers JJ McCarthy Questions
Unfortunately, given the ties Schefter has — not just across the NFL, but around Michigan circles too — it sure doesn’t sound like McCarthy is going to accept the outcome of Minnesota’s QB competition humbly.
It might also be worth noting that JJ is scheduled to meet with media today…
J.J. McCarthy is scheduled to speak tomorrow. https://t.co/KdY2rZwhu8
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 11, 2026
Mentioned in this article:J.J. McCarthy NFL Trade Rumors
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