Former Vikings Lineman Breaks Down QB Timeline
The Minnesota Vikings will have a few roster battles at training camp, but none quite takes the cake like quarterback, which will feature Kyler Murray versus J.J. McCarthy. Murray is favored to prevail, while McCarthy cannot be ruled out. And according to former Vikings guard Jeremiah Sirles, the world should have a good indication of the battle’s outcome by Sunday, August 9th.
That’s about six and a half weeks from now, so the wait won’t be long.
Vikings QB Decision Could Arrive before the Preseason
Sirles on the QB Competition Timeline
Sirles frequents SKOR North‘s Purple Daily program, and he said this week, “I don’t think anyone right now is going, ‘Yeah, I hate this competition.’ I think people are way fine with this competition. But if it goes past the night scrimmage in whatever day, that’s usually like a week, two weeks into camp — if that goes past the night scrimmage without declaring a starter, then I’m gonna start to worry a little bit.”
“It’s more as an offensive lineman going, ‘How long are we gonna let this go before declaring a starter? Week 1 is not that far away, and we need to have as much time on task with QB1 as possible.'”
It’s a popular topic, as Vikings fans have wondered how long the eventual QB1 should spend with the first-team offense rather than splitting reps with the other guy. For example, if Murray wins the competition, shouldn’t the Vikings want him to have the most snaps with the first-team offense as possible before showtime in Week 1?
An Artificial Deadline That Makes Sense
Sirles appears to have pulled the “night practice” out of thin air as a de facto deadline before offensive linemen start asking questions. But it also makes sense.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has hinted that the quarterback battle won’t necessarily go down to the wire. His offense is complex, and having the QB1 in place sooner rather than later is a deal, especially if Murray gets the nod. McCarthy obviously knows the offense better, but the odds favor Murray to win the QB1 job.
Meanwhile, the night practice is the unofficial Super Bowl of training camp, and for everyone’s peace of mind, showcasing quarterback stability in the form of an established QB1 might be better for optics. In that regard, Sirles’s theory is not coming out of left field.
Sirles added about the battle, “I think it goes the other way; if J.J. misses out on those reps, that dude is still trying to stack bars of gold as much as he can. Reading defenses, understanding timing.”
“There’s just so much more that goes into it for a second-year starter versus a, what, eight-year vet? Right, so, as an eight-year vet, you’ve seen so much more on Sundays than J.J. ever has. And, so, I think it actually goes the other way. I think Kyler will be just fine.”
History Shows Sirles’ Timeline Would Be Early
Of course, recent precedent shows that having Murray or McCarthy tabbed with a QB1 emblem on their chest by August 9th would be early. In recent years, various teams have named starters on these dates after summer competitions:
- Browns named Joe Flacco: Aug. 18, 2025.
- Colts named Daniel Jones: Aug. 19, 2025.
- Saints named Spencer Rattler: Aug. 26, 2025.
- Broncos named Bo Nix: Aug. 21, 2024.
- Raiders named Gardner Minshew: Aug. 18, 2024.
Sirles’s idea would basically mean that Minnesota is a week or a week and a half early. The recent timeline suggests that head coaches name QB1 battle victors after the first preseason game.
Therefore, it’s “stay tuned” on O’Connell’s decision.
Other Roster Battles
Quarterback isn’t the only roster battle on deck in Minnesota. The others:
OLB3: Bo Richter | Tyler Batty | Jake Golday | Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins | a Free Agent
Center: Blake Brandel | Michael Jurgens | Gavin Gerhardt
Safety: Jay Ward | Theo Jackson | Jakobe Thomas
Nose Tackle: Domonique Orange | Levi Drake Rodriguez
Punter: Johnny Hekker | Brett Thorson
RB3: Zavier Scott | Demond Claiborne
It’s worth noting that these battles could go the distance, with the coaching staff announcing the depth chart in late August. In fact, onlookers should expect that outcome.
Safety may not have questions if Harrison Smith returns from Year No. 15, but nobody knows if that will happen.
Training camp, where folks can see Murray vs. McCarthy, begins for fans on August 1st. The first preseason game will occur in New York on August 15th against the Giants. The Vikings tend to rest starters in preseason games, but 2026 may be a different story, as the club felt a bit unprepared to start the 2025 regular season.
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