Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Gets Bad News Ahead of Pivotal Offseason

Last summer, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell gave J.J. McCarthy a ringing endorsement as the team's quarterback of the future.

"Everyone should be excited that we got our young franchise quarterback in the building," O'Connell said in August after McCarthy underwent season-ending knee surgery.

But after Sam Darnold's career rebirth, reaching the first Pro Bowl of his career to the tune of 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdowns in the regular season, McCarthy's path to becoming the team's franchise star isn't as clear.

In an end-of-season news conference, O'Connell clarified his "franchise quarterback" statement with questions surrounding who will start next season.

"When I said that in training camp about J.J., I think it was to make sure that everybody knew my perspective on what we had added… which was a guy [who] we all believe in his future. We all believe he had done some things to confirm the special aspects of what J.J. McCarthy had been as a player at the collegiate level," O'Connell said January 16.

O'Connell did not take sides on who they'll move forward with next season, reminding reporters he praised Darnold throughout camp as well.

"At the same time, throughout that whole time [training camp], I do remember saying that Sam was having a great training camp and doing a lot of the things that we hoped he would do on his individualized approach to being at his best and playing the best football of his career," O'Connell said.

Darnold's future is the biggest domino to fall ahead of free agency with many teams desperate to improve at the quarterback position.

Minnesota's decision on whether to sign him to a new deal or move on will hinge on their confidence that McCarthy is ready to lead the team -- but the Vikings are not ready to make that call.

"How we put things together as we move into the future will be based upon what gives us the best chance to win, what gives us the best chance to put the best version of the Minnesota Vikings football team on the field," O'Connell said.

"It's way too early to – in that process – to really identify exactly what that looks like."