McCarthy came into the offseason with a legitimate opportunity to earn the starting quarterback job over Kyler Murray, whom the Minnesota Vikings picked up on a veteran minimum deal in March. But throughout training camp and the preseason, he did little to show he deserves that role, and now, head coach Kevin O'Connell has given the clearest signal yet about where things actually stand for the former first-round pick. On Wednesday, O'Connell announced that veteran Carson Wentz will serve as the team's backup quarterback behind Murray for Sunday's season opener against the Packers — sending McCarthy down to No. 3 on the depth chart.
Up to this point, McCarthy was widely believed to hold at least a narrow edge over Wentz. After all, this is the same player who started for the Vikings last season, and whom the organization felt strongly enough about to trade up for and draft 10th overall two years ago. O'Connell naming Wentz the backup over McCarthy sends a clear signal of how McCarthy is being viewed right now, even within the building.
More news: Puka Nacua Gets Major Suspension Update Ahead of Rams Season Opener McCarthy's first season as a starter was undeniably brutal. He completed just 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, despite O'Connell expressing confidence in him throughout the year. The offense struggled to move the ball all season as a result.
Justin Jefferson had the worst year of his career, and the Vikings fell to 9-8 — a steep drop-off from their 14-3 finish the year before with Sam Darnold. That already made it clear McCarthy wasn't the long-term answer under center, but few expected him to be scraping by as the third-string quarterback at this point. More news: Patrick Mahomes’ Week 1 Return Raises ‘Significant Concerns’ for Ex-NFL QB More news: Browns Fans Fuming Over Todd Monken’s Latest Deshaun Watson Announcement Ultimately, he hasn't looked great when given opportunities, but he's still just 23 years old and on a rookie contract — which alone could make him an attractive trade target.
Rumors about a possible trade have been swirling for months. With Wentz now clearly ahead of him in O'Connell's eyes, McCarthy's leash in Minnesota looks shorter than ever. If the Vikings are ready to move on, this depth chart move might be the clearest signal yet that a trade could be coming in the months ahead.
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