The Minnesota Vikings finally got competent play from the quarterback position after a month of ineptitude between second-year signal-caller JJ McCarthy and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer.
McCarthy returned from one week out due to a concussion and led the Vikings to a 31-0 blowout of the Washington Commanders. It was easily the best game of the 22-year-old’s NFL career, as he completed 16-of-23 passes for three touchdowns and zero turnovers. McCarthy also rushed the football six times for 19 yards.
A reporter asked McCarthy if his abrupt turnaround was about mechanics or simply just going out and playing without actively thinking about the little things.
“I think it was just playing,” McCarthy said. “The big message of last night’s team meeting was play for that 16-year-old version of yourself. Understand what got you into this game, what made you fall in love with this game. Regardless of the record, regardless of where we are this season, just go out there and have fun, play fast, play free, and I feel like we all did that today.”
JJ McCarthy Cleared First Obstacle to Remaining Longterm Starter in Week 14
GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported this week that Minnesota is almost certain to bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with McCarthy next offseason.
And while one solid game isn’t going to change that, McCarthy took a big step toward saving himself and his longterm future in Minnesota.
“If McCarthy returns from his concussion and shows signs of growth over the final month of the season, the Vikings should field competition for their starting job in camp next year,” Bill Barnwell of ESPN wrote on December 4. “If he continues to look overmatched upon his return to the lineup, though, the Vikings might move forward with a new plan at quarterback, consigning McCarthy to a backup role after just a handful of pro starts.”
Daniel Jones’ Achilles Injury Removes Top Threat to JJ McCarthy’s Job Security With Vikings
GettyIndianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones.
McCarthy’s best game of the year at what was easily the most crucial juncture of his season, even if the same was not necessarily true for his team as a whole, was the first thing the young QB did to boost his longterm prospects in Minnesota.
The second factor that improved those prospects Sunday had nothing to do with McCarthy directly, but came in the form of an Achilles tear suffered by Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones.
Jones left his team’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with the injury, which is going to keep him out for the remainder of this year and probably well into next season. Several analysts floated Jones as a potential free-agent option for Minnesota after he linked up with the Vikings in 2024. He did so following the New York Giants‘ decision to release him mid-season.
It is unclear if paying Jones on a longterm deal would have made sense for Minnesota considering his cost and timetable, or if it would have been a path the franchise ultimately chose to follow. But Jones was the top-ranked free agent by SI prior to the injury and clearly the biggest threat to McCarthy’s job security in 2026 and beyond given Minnesota’s needs and the limited options available.
With Jones now seriously injured, McCarthy no longer faces that threat.
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