J.J. McCarthy is sticking around in Minnesota.
Despite rumblings that suggested McCarthy could be cut or traded by Sunday’s 6 p.m. ET roster deadline, the former first-round pick made the Vikings’ initial 53-man roster.
McCarthy entered Minnesota’s 2026 training camp with a chance to compete with new acquisition Kyler Murray for the starting job, but never managed to make the battle interesting. Coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t drag out the process, naming Murray the starter just two weeks into camp while promising to continue working with McCarthy in his development and preparation.
As preseason progressed, reports suggested Minnesota might move McCarthy to an interested suitor (i.e., the Los Angeles Chargers, led by McCarthy’s collegiate coach, Jim Harbaugh) by the end of the month. With Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer also on the roster, McCarthy could have understandably become the odd man out.
Instead, the Vikings have opted to carry four quarterbacks for now, joining the Eagles and Steelers in keeping four signal-callers.
