Third-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy will remain with the Minnesota Vikings … for now.
The Vikings, like all other 31 NFL teams, trimmed their rosters from 90 to 53 players before Sunday’s deadline at 6 p.m. ET. McCarthy made the cut, despite losing the starting QB battle to Kyler Murray in training camp and struggling to remain QB2 over Carson Wentz.
McCarthy, who missed Minnesota’s preseason finale against the Denver Broncos due to an ankle injury, went 9-of-17 passing (52.9 completion percentage, well below average) for 115 yards and two interceptions in preseason. Wentz, meanwhile, went 21-of-29 passing (72.4 completion percentage, above average) for 188 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. ESPN still lists McCarthy as the QB2 on the Vikings’ depth chart, but the team will release an updated one later this week.
McCarthy can breathe a sigh of relief after making the team, but he can’t rest easy as his future with the Vikings remains in limbo.