Cris Carter Takes Another Public Shot at Vikings QB
By now, it’s quite obvious that Hall of Famer Cris Carter is not overly enthused about the Minnesota Vikings’ future with J.J. McCarthy in charge. The beloved wideout delivered a fresh analysis of McCarthy this week, and — wait for it — it was not very flattering.
Cris Carter directed fresh criticism at the Vikings’ quarterback this week, adding another chapter to his ongoing public critiques as Minnesota tries to stabilize its offense.
Carter basically thinks the Vikings are stuck with McCarthy, with no repair plan possible.
Cris Carter Isn’t Done Criticizing J.J. McCarthy
Here we go again.
Carter on McCarthy
Asked by CardPlayer.com about his opinion on a litany of topics, Carter said about McCarthy, “Very average quarterback play they have not been able to overcome. It was good to see J.J. have a good game. Probably his best game as a pro. Washington, of course, is in the 30s as far as ranks from a defensive standpoint.”
“So Santa Claus came to town just a little bit early for the Vikings and their passing attack. Let’s see if they can grow it. Justin Jefferson is having a very, very average season for him. And the reason why is quarterback play. It’s not him. It’s not his ability to get open, and threaten the defense and make big plays.”
McCarthy checked in as the NFL’s sixth-best quarterback in Week 14 per EPA+CPOE.
Carter continued, “So that right there is an issue that needs to be proven out, and the only way it will be proven out is by repetition. That is the only way.”
“The Vikings are stuck with their quarterback situation, and they’re going to have to keep putting him out there to see if the game will slow down, and if he can vary the velocity on his balls and read defenses on a regular basis. Just like everyone else.”
It’s a trend for Carter this season, making sure the Vikings feel the heat of his opinions.
Very Obviously Not Impressed
Carter has been on a polite crusade against McCarthy for weeks.
There was this tweet:
And two weeks ago, Carter said that head coach Kevin O’Connell was “scared to death” by McCarthy’s performance, adding he wasn’t sure about the path forward for McCarthy.
The guy very vividly isn’t a McCarthy fanatic, and oddly, Carter always seems to speak up on Vikings-themed matters when things are bad. He didn’t say much during the 14-3 season of 2024.
McCarthy’s 3-TD Performance Did Nothing?
McCarthy spent the better part of a month getting cooked — a running joke on social media, a punchline on sports talk shows, the guy everyone circled as proof the Vikings misfired on draft night.
Then he showed up last Sunday and shut a lot of mouths.
Three touchdowns. No turnovers. A modest yardage total, indeed, but finally a game without the self-inflicted wounds that have defined his season. He stayed on schedule, leaned into the run game, and played like someone who understood the assignment instead of trying to play hero ball. That’s the version Minnesota can work with — a quarterback who settles the offense rather than sending it into turbulence.
And the numbers agreed. He earned it. For the first time in weeks, the Vikings weren’t squinting at potential. They were looking at actual progress.
Contingency Plans in the Offseason
Suppose Carter is right: McCarthy doesn’t amount to much in the next four games, and Minnesota very outwardly needs another quarterback in 2026, at least for competition.
The club could explore a trade for Kyler Murray, Mac Jones, Will Levis, or Anthony Richardson. It could convince Aaron Rodgers to postpone retirement for a year or two. The Vikings could sign a mediocre option like Gardner Minshew or Drew Lock. Or it can draft another quarterback.
There’s some momentum that a Pro Bowler like Joe Burrow might request a trade, but that one falls in a category of “believe it when you see it.”
More from Carter
Carter also said about rolling with McCarthy in 2026 or finding a new QB option: “I think both of those things can be true. I think they should bring in a vet anyway as competition. You can’t depend on him not to get hurt. He’s only had a handful of starts, but his ability to avoid contact in a short period of time has not proven to be good. So you’re going to have to have a veteran there, someone who’s proven in case he gets injured.”
“And you’re going to have competition, because that’s what makes players better. I’ve been released, so I always thought I was auditioning. Every game after that, every game and every practice, I thought I was auditioning. So I don’t know why he would be thinking anything but that.”
Minnesota can own McCarthy’s rights through the end of the 2028 season, assuming it locks in his fifth-year rookie option.
McCarthy is still just 22 years old.
Carter began his career slowly, too, in 1987 and 1998, plagued by drug and alcohol issues, before turning his life around and later transforming into a Hall of Famer.
You must be logged in to post a comment.