At least one person in the NFL still has J.J. McCarthy’s back.
Raiders receiver Jalen Nailor may no longer be in Minnesota, but he is still backing his former quarterback.
As McCarthy prepares for a quarterback competition with Kyler Murray, Nailor backed his old teammate when asked about the situation while suggesting McCarthy just needs time and reps.
Jalen Nailor Backs J.J. McCarthy To Win Vikings QB Battle
Speaking to FanDuel’s Kay Adams on “Up and Adams,” Nailor pointed to what McCarthy needs to keep growing in the NFL.
“He can be the guy for sure. He can be the guy for sure,” Nailor said. “I just feel like it’s a matter of him just still getting those reps in game and just building on what he did his past year. Just try to have a clean, healthy season. If he has a clean, healthy season, I think he’ll be fine.”
Adams pressed Nailor on the type of person McCarthy is, and the veteran wideout emphasized the competitive edge McCarthy brings to the position.
“He’s the ultimate competitor in my eyes,” Nailor said. “It’s gonna be a battle. I can tell you that. It’s gonna be a great QB battle. I don’t know who’s gonna come out on top. I’ll probably rock for my guy JJ, but you never know, man. It’s gonna bring the best out of both of them.”
That perspective comes from someone who saw McCarthy up close. Even in a limited role within a crowded receiving group, Nailor was part of an offense trying to find consistency at quarterback.
Kyler Murray Addition Changes Vikings Quarterback Timeline
The Vikings brought in Murray on a one-year deal at the veteran minimum after his release from the Arizona Cardinals. The move gives Minnesota a proven option while creating immediate pressure on McCarthy.
There are also signs the team may view Murray as more than a short-term solution. Head coach Kevin O’Connell reportedly told him he could be a longer-term answer, not just a temporary fix. That possibility raises the stakes for a former first-round pick still trying to establish himself.
McCarthy’s 2025 season left plenty of questions unanswered. Injuries limited his availability, and when he did play, the results were uneven. He completed just 57.6% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions across 10 starts.
He finished 37th in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact Metric. Murray, despite his own injury history, finished 21st in the same metric and brings experience McCarthy does not yet have.
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Minnesota brought Murray in for a reason, and it changes the timeline for everyone involved. This is not a long runway anymore, especially for a former first-round pick who has yet to lock down the job.
Nailor is betting on what McCarthy can become if things finally settle down. The injuries and inconsistency have defined the early portion of his career, and that has to change.
The competition with Murray marks the first time McCarthy has been pushed, and irrespective of the outcome of the competition, it should lead to a clearer vision of what his potential is at the NFL level.
