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The Minnesota Vikings<\/a> are in the midst of OTAs with mandatory minicamp on the horizon from June 9 to June 11. Much of the focus has been on the team\u2019s QB battle between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray.<\/p>\n Every throw and completion will be under the microscope and analyzed as the two players have a lot on the line in this battle. After the Arizona Cardinals<\/a> cut ties with him, Murray wants to show that he\u2019s still a starter in the league.<\/p>\n As for McCarthy, he\u2019s looking to show that he can be a consistent QB after a rollercoaster 2025 season that also saw him deal with multiple injuries. Speaking of McCarthy, Vikings<\/a> reporter for The Athletic, Alec Lewis, shared an update on how the third-year signal-caller is looking on the practice field. <\/p>\n \u201cI understand with J.J. McCarthy coming back this spring and summer, he\u2019s obviously been very motivated and has every reason to be motivated,\u201d Lewis said on the June 2 edition of \u201cThe Alec Lewis Show.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think, from a throwing standpoint, he\u2019s definitely looked solid. His mechanics look smooth, and the layering he\u2019s obviously focused on is something that he wants to continue to improve on.\u201d<\/p>\n Vikings\u2019 J.J. McCarthy Caught the League\u2019s Eyes With Recent Comments<\/p>\n Moreover, Lewis shared what people around the league told him about McCarthy\u2019s comments on his relationship with Murray, as the two are in the early stages of this QB battle. <\/p>\n \u201cThe comments last week definitely caught the attention of people around the league,\u201d Lewis added. \u201cAs much as they became a big talking point, I\u2019d say if you\u2019re listening to this and you love JJ and view those comments as him being fired up and highly motivated, or if you view them as a prop, I\u2019d just say that, based on conversations with people around the league, eyebrows were raised by the comments and by the juxtaposition with how Kyler talked about it.<\/p>\n \u201cThat said, my conversations with people internally have not been about a trade. They haven\u2019t been about those comments. They\u2019ve been about maximizing every single day on the field and making sure that happens. Then the chips will fall where they may.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Leber Defends J.J. McCarthy\u2019s Comments Over Kyler Murray<\/p>\n Meanwhile, former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber had no problems with McCarthy\u2019s comments. Leber noted that this isn\u2019t a mentor-mentee situation; it\u2019s two guys understanding they need to win this competition to prove they can be a starting QB in the NFL<\/a>. <\/p>\n As a result, it shouldn\u2019t be a surprise that McCarhy showed his competitive side to the media. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know why everybody\u2019s so shocked,\u201d\u00a0Leber said in a May 28 appearance on KFAN<\/a>. \u201cMaybe because we\u2019ve been getting a little more political answers from [McCarthy] lately. But the thing is, it also wasn\u2019t so over the top. It was just, \u2018Here\u2019s the facts. He sits on this side of the room. I sit on this side of the room. That\u2019s it. We\u2019re here to compete.’\u201d<\/p>\n Last season, McCarthy played 522 total snaps for the Vikings during a campaign in which he battled injuries and rollercoaster performances. Nonetheless, the signal-caller\u00a0posted a 61.8 overall PFF grade<\/a>, throwing for 1,632 passing yards and 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.<\/p>\n Moreover, McCarthy recorded 19 big-time throws and 15 turnover-worthy plays. Meanwhile, on the ground, he added 156 scramble yards and four rushing touchdowns.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tEduardo Razo<\/a> Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. 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