Minnesota Vikings Quarterback J.J. McCarthy

As of September 9, 2026, McCarthy is listed behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz on Minnesota's unofficial depth chart. The full picture of the position group sits on the Vikings quarterback depth chart.

That placement represents a significant change from 2025, when McCarthy started every regular-season game in which he appeared. He finished that season with a 6-4 starting record, but inconsistent passing and further injury interruptions prevented him from establishing complete control of the position.

Minnesota has indicated that the quarterback order can be evaluated from week to week. McCarthy therefore enters the season as a developmental option who must remain prepared for another opportunity rather than as the team's opening-day starter.

The totals above are confirmed by both the Minnesota Vikings and NFL.com. Team-wide numbers live on the Vikings stats page.

What the statistics show

McCarthy's first regular-season campaign contained two contrasting versions of the same quarterback.

The overall numbers show the problems clearly. He completed 57.6 percent of his passes, threw one more interception than touchdown and produced a 72.6 passer rating. Minnesota also had to work through stretches in which injuries limited his availability.

His final four starts offered a more encouraging picture. During that stretch, McCarthy completed 54 of 84 attempts for 703 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. His passer rating across those games was 100.4.

That late improvement does not erase the earlier inconsistency, but it gives Minnesota a useful development point. McCarthy finished the season processing several situations more effectively, protecting the ball more consistently and creating touchdowns with both his arm and his legs.

McCarthy made his regular-season debut against the Chicago Bears in Week 1 of the 2025 season.

Minnesota entered the fourth quarter trailing 17-6. McCarthy then helped produce three touchdowns during the final period as the Vikings completed a 27-24 comeback.

McCarthy became the first player in NFL history to account for three fourth-quarter touchdowns in his regular-season debut. He was subsequently named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

The performance immediately demonstrated the traits that made him an attractive draft prospect. He stayed aggressive after an early mistake, extended plays with his legs and delivered when the game became compressed into a handful of important possessions.

Three balls on the equipment table

The late-season response

McCarthy returned to deliver some of his best football in December.

Against Washington, he completed 16 of 23 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns. The Vikings won 31-0.

One week later in Dallas, McCarthy set a career high with 250 passing yards. He threw two touchdown passes and added a rushing score in Minnesota's 34-26 victory.

Those performances mattered because the improvement was not based only on spectacular throws. McCarthy showed better timing, made faster decisions and was more willing to take the completion available within the structure of the play.

He ended the season with 15 total touchdowns, consisting of 11 through the air and four on the ground.

Why McCarthy missed his rookie season

Minnesota selected McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he did not appear in a regular-season game that year.

After playing in Minnesota's opening preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, McCarthy reported soreness in his right knee. Testing revealed a torn meniscus that required surgery. He spent the entire 2024 season on injured reserve.

The injury delayed his regular-season debut until September 2025. It also removed a full year of live game experience from the beginning of his professional development.

The difficult middle of the season

McCarthy's debut was followed by a far more complicated stretch.

He injured his ankle against Atlanta in Week 2 and missed the following three games. Minnesota later designated him as its emergency third quarterback while he continued working toward a full return.

When McCarthy returned against Detroit, he helped the Vikings defeat a division opponent on the road. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards, threw two touchdowns and scored another on the ground.

The next several games exposed the unfinished areas of his development. Pressure, turnovers and uneven ball placement disrupted the offense. He threw multiple interceptions against Baltimore, Chicago and Green Bay before entering the concussion protocol following the Packers game.

His first season was therefore not a simple success or failure. It was a collection of high-level moments interrupted by injuries and stretches of unreliable execution. Current availability across the roster is tracked on the Vikings injury report.

Two doors, eight magnetic notes. The left door holds what is already visible; the right door holds what is still developing.

The Vikings traded up one position and selected McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft. Every Minnesota selection since is listed on the Vikings draft page.

He offered several qualities suited to Kevin O'Connell's offense:

• Experience operating a structured passing system
• Mobility inside and outside the pocket
• Confidence throwing through the middle of the field
• Willingness to attempt difficult passes
• Experience in high-pressure games
• A strong record as a college starter

McCarthy was the first Michigan offensive player ever drafted by the Vikings. He was also the first Wolverine selected by Minnesota within the opening three rounds.

McCarthy played at Michigan from 2021 through 2023 and finished his college career with a 27-1 record as a starting quarterback.

Across three seasons, he completed 482 of 713 passes for 6,226 yards and 49 touchdowns. He also gained 632 rushing yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns.

His best season came in 2023:

Michigan completed an undefeated season by winning the national championship. McCarthy also received the Griese-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year award and first-team All-Big Ten recognition.

His 72.3 percent completion rate established a Michigan single-season record at the time.

McCarthy is at his best when the offense gives him a defined initial read while preserving the option to move.

He has enough speed to escape pressure, attack open space and become a scoring threat near the goal line. His four rushing touchdowns in 2025 showed that defenses must account for him once he leaves the pocket.

As a passer, McCarthy is willing to attack tight windows and push the ball beyond short underneath routes. That confidence can produce valuable completions, but it can also create turnover opportunities when his timing or footwork breaks down.

His next stage of development depends on turning aggressive decisions into controlled aggression.

• Maize tape: Michigan
• Purple tape: Minnesota
• White tape: injury or recovery

Every strip is also labelled in words, so the colour is never the only thing carrying the meaning.

McCarthy's immediate assignment is different from the one he carried into the 2025 season. He is no longer being asked to open the year as Minnesota's unquestioned starter.

His route back toward the field will depend on practice performance, health and what happens ahead of him on the depth chart. The Vikings can continue developing his mechanics and decision-making without requiring him to manage the offense every Sunday.

The larger question remains open. Can the quarterback who finished 27-1 at Michigan and produced several dramatic NFL victories become consistent enough to reclaim a starting role?

His first professional season provided evidence for both sides of the argument. The physical ability and late-game confidence were visible. So were the accuracy problems, turnovers and availability concerns.

• What team does J.J. McCarthy play for?

  J.J. McCarthy plays quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

• What number does J.J. McCarthy wear?

  McCarthy wears No. 9.

• Is J.J. McCarthy the Vikings' starting quarterback?

  No. As of September 9, 2026, Minnesota's unofficial depth chart lists Kyler Murray first, Carson Wentz second and McCarthy third.

• What are J.J. McCarthy's NFL statistics?

  Through the 2025 season, he has completed 140 of 243 passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also has 181 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

• When was J.J. McCarthy drafted?

  The Vikings selected McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

• Why did J.J. McCarthy miss the 2024 season?

  He suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee following Minnesota's first preseason game and spent the season on injured reserve.

• Where did J.J. McCarthy play college football?

  He played at Michigan from 2021 through 2023.

• Did J.J. McCarthy win a national championship?

  Yes. He led Michigan to an undefeated season and the College Football Playoff national championship during the 2023 campaign.