The Minnesota Vikings have put all their hopes on second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Last year, head coach Kevin O’Connell brought Sam Darnold’s career back to life after McCarthy suffered a season-ending meniscus tear in the 2024 preseason.
But after a 14-2 regular season, the Vikings let Darnold leave in free agency, sticking with their original plan that McCarthy is their key now and for the future.
Now, Minnesota fans will see if that gamble pays off.
Will J.J. McCarthy Play Against the Patriots?
O’Connell is keeping McCarthy on the sidelines for the matchup with New England after a strong joint practice session earlier this week.
“To go out there and execute the way he did, it felt decisive,” O’Connell said Thursday. “It felt incredibly — an incredible amount of conviction to some of the decisions that he made, location of the football, a lot to build on.”
“The offense was humming as a whole,” he said, via the Vikings’ site. “I feel like the physicality up front really set the tone, and just the way we’re able to execute and be precise, but it all starts with the boys up front. They did a tremendous job today.”
Not too late to get on the JJ McCarthy bandwagon. pic.twitter.com/Ir3kGKP6S9
— Fantasy Farmer (@TFFDudes) August 15, 2025
Sitting McCarthy makes sense. The Vikings have a lot invested in him, especially after the franchise traded up to get him in the 2024 draft. After missing all of the 2024-25 campaign, the last thing Minnesota wants is for McCarthy to risk more contact before the games count.
So, Sam Howell is in line to start Saturday’s game.
McCarthy only played one series in the preseason against Houston, where he completed four of seven passes for 30 yards and had an eight-yard run, picking up a fourth down. Howell followed, going 11-for-13 for 105 yards and scoring on a one-yard touchdown run. He has locked up the backup spot behind McCarthy.
Meanwhile, O’Connell will probably give Brett Rypien and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer plenty of snaps against New England. Both quarterbacks are fighting for the third spot on the depth chart.
With two preseason games left, the Vikings can assess their quarterback group before the real action starts fully.
O’Connell seems set on holding McCarthy out for the rest of the preseason. Like many coaches from the Sean McVay coaching tree, he prefers to keep his starters out of preseason games. After what happened to McCarthy in 2024, it is no surprise he will wear street clothes on Saturday.
