Vikings’ McCarthy Misses Practice As Roster Cuts Loom

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy sat out the team’s final training camp practice Wednesday with an ankle injury, and his future in Minnesota is suddenly an open question.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said the day off was precautionary. McCarthy hurt the ankle in the August 22nd preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, and the Vikings split his practice reps with veteran Carson Wentz to keep his workload down. O’Connell said the plan is still for McCarthy to start Friday’s preseason finale at the Denver Broncos, an 8:00 p.m. kickoff in Denver.

That start comes at a critical moment. NFL teams must trim their rosters from 90 players to 53 by Sunday, August 30th.

Kyler Murray, signed as a free agent this offseason, was named Minnesota’s starting quarterback shortly before the preseason began. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft, is now competing with Wentz just to be the backup. Max Brosmer is also on the roster.

Mike Florio of NBC Sports wrote this week that if McCarthy loses that competition, he could be gone before the season starts, either traded or released. Florio said McCarthy “won’t be a Viking come next Monday” in that scenario. A trade would be complicated by McCarthy’s contract. The balance of his 2026 salary, $1.075 million, and all of his 2027 pay, $3.775 million, are fully guaranteed.

Injuries have shadowed his career. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after knee surgery and sat out seven games last year with a high ankle sprain, a concussion and a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. He has 10 career starts.