Sep 25, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Not many NFL teams currently have honest-to-goodness quarterback battles, but the Minnesota Vikings are one of them.
And the next step of the QB1 puzzle took shape Thursday when head coach Kevin O’Connell opted to roll with the veteran Sam Darnold at QB1, at least to start the first preseason game, with rookie signal-caller J.J. McCarthy on deck to receive “substantial” playing time.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, “Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell told reporters that QB Sam Darnold will start Saturday’s preseason opener before the team then turns to J.J. McCarthy.”
Reservist quarterback Jaren Hall will also experience action, probably in the 2nd Half, while Nick Mullens is not expected to play. O’Connell didn’t specifically designate workloads for any quarterback, but the two youngest, McCarthy and Hall, should grab ample snaps between quarters 2 and 4.
When the Vikings’ first depth chart of 2024 dropped on Tuesday, Darnold checked in as the unabashed QB1 — with McCarthy evidently battling for a QB2 job, not QB1. McCarthy and Mullens are listed on the depth chart as “backups” in their own category, with Hall the apparent QB4. Darnold is the standalone QB1 — on paper. In that sense, Darnold, as the preseason starter for the game’s first drive, makes all the sense in the world.
The Vikings host the Raiders — a team that also has an ongoing quarterback battle — at U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday.
Last week, head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters about his quarterback battle, “As far as that depth chart in that room, I think it’s clear and obvious — like you guys do; you make the commitment to come out every day — you see it’s pretty darn even between Sam and J.J. And in many cases, J.J. getting a couple more [reps] with our ability to add some developmental stuff for the guys down the line.”
Declaring the battle as “even” wasn’t a situation most fans had on their radar in the spring. Most believed Darnold would shine above all else while hoping McCarthy would show glimpses of competence as a 21-year-old rookie. However, McCarthy has very much looked the part of a rookie who could start out of the gate.
O’Connell also expressed his belief in “playing the best player that gives you the best chance to win.”
Most onlookers consider the Vikings quarterback battle pretty fluid at the moment, mainly because McCarthy has looked so good as a rookie at training camp. Darnold remains the frontrunner to start against the New York Giants in Week 1, but strong, mature preseason performance(s) from McCarthy in the next three weeks could turn the tide.
The Vikings haven’t won a preseason game in five years and have lost 10 straight.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
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