Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Michigan football's former quarterback J.J. McCarthy will back up both Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz as a third stringer to open the 2026 NFL season.
"This gives us the best chance to win, " O'Connell told reporters Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Head Coach Kevin O'Connell has announced that Carson Wentz will serve as the team's backup QB on Sunday and that J.J. McCarthy will serve as the 3rd QB.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 9, 2026
O'Connell says it'll be a week-to-week thing as far as the backup QB spot goes. pic.twitter.com/Uw6yYAkBSm
The team will start Murray to open the season against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. 13.
O'Connell added that it'll be a "week-to-week" thing as far as the backup QB spot goes.
The Vikings traded up
to take McCarthy with the 10th pick of the first round in 2025. He started 10 games for the Lions' division rival, going 6-4 before being benched on Aug. 12.
McCarthy led the Wolverines to the 2023 College Football Playoff championship and went 27-1 as a starter at Michigan.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Former Michigan QB, top-10 pick J.J. McCarthy dropped to third string by Vikings
