EAGAN, Minn. – The Minnesota Vikings plan to give quarterback J.J. McCarthy action in Saturday’s preseason game against the Houston Texans, according to coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Monday.
This encounter will mark a milestone for McCarthy, who suffered a right knee injury in the Vikings’ first preseason game in 2024. This made him the first quarterback selected in the first round in the modern draft era to miss his entire rookie season due to injury.
McCarthy arrived at training camp this summer at the top of the Vikings’ depth chart and has participated in every practice with the first team.
O’Connell did not reveal how much time McCarthy will play or if there are plans for future preseason appearances, indicating that he had not yet discussed the topic with the team. Last season, starter Sam Darnold played a series of the first preseason game and then was absent from the next two games.
It’s unlikely that McCarthy will play in the Vikings’ second preseason game, August 16 against the New England Patriots, because the teams will have two joint practice days before the game.
“You’d love for him to play as much as possible,” O’Connell commented, “but I think with those two days of joint practice [with the Patriots], and the type of reps that the other offensive guys will get from a physical and workload standpoint, we’ll most likely use those two days as our real days. Obviously, that’s subject to change based on how they go, how we feel coming out of them. If we need to get a little bit more work, we will. Then we’ll evaluate that last preseason game as it gets closer.”
It’s likely that most of the Vikings’ preseason repetitions will be taken by veterans Sam Howell and Brett Rypien, along with rookie Max Brosmer.
