Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter has long been one of the most well-respected voices associated with the Minnesota Vikings.
Carter is also one of the most blunt and candid players to ever don a Vikings uniform, and his latest public critique was aimed squarely at second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
After Minnesota’s last-second Week 11 loss to the Chicago Bears, Carter responded to McCarthy’s performance with a brief-yet-biting social media message. In reply to analyst Emmanuel Acho, who praised McCarthy for leading the Vikings on a touchdown-scoring drive in the fourth quarter against Chicago, Carter dropped the following blistering response: “Did you watch the first 59 mins?”
Carter followed that up with a thumbs-down emoji.
Carter’s Word Should Carry Some Weight
Carter’s opinions carry a little more weight in Minnesota, and for good reason. He remains one of the most accomplished and admired players in franchise history, finishing his 12-year Vikings tenure as the club’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.
His place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with his reputation as a no-nonsense player who helped set the organizational standard for accountability, made him a team legend. He was a fan favorite when he played in the 1990s, and he remains popular with multiple generations of Vikings fans, former teammates and current players.
Thus, when Carter speaks publicly about the state of the franchise, it’s worth listening to.
More Context on Why Cris Carter Was Critical About J.J. McCarthy vs. Bears
GettyMinnesota Vikings legend Cris Carter had a blunt response to J.J. McCarthy’s performance against the Chicago Bears Week 11.
After missing his rookie season due to a meniscus injury, this is McCarthy’s first year as a full-time starter. It hasn’t gone well. Through 11 weeks, the young QB’s talent remains evident, but he’s making loads of mistakes, his accuracy simply isn’t there and he can’t seem to form a solid connection with top wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
McCarthy’s performance against the Bears was a prime example. The young QB delivered a composed, well-executed two-minute touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, momentarily giving the Vikings a 17-16 lead.
But before that, he threw two very ugly interceptions that killed drives and put Minnesota’s defense in unfavorable positions. McCarthy completed just 16 of his 32 passes for 150 yards, with a touchdown and the two picks when all was said and done.
Unfortunately, throughout the season, Minnesota’s offensive production has reflected those struggles.
A Closer Look at the Numbers
Overall this season, McCarthy has a completion percentage of 52.9%. He has thrown for 842 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions, with a QBR of just 26.6.
The Vikings remain committed to McCarthy long-term, and head coach Kevin O’Connell has done nothing but show patience and support for his young signal-caller.
Here’s the thing: The sky isn’t falling just because one of the most respected figures in franchise history was critical of McCarthy on X. But Carter likely just wants what most of Skol Nation wants: more consistency from QB1. And, based on what we’ve seen from J.J. this year, that’s an absolutely fair take to have.
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