Coming off another rough outing in Week 11, J.J. McCarthy's long-term foothold on the starting job with the Minnesota Vikings looks particularly shaky as the team tries to keep its playoff hopes alive this season.

ESPN’s insiders explain why the Vikings are worried about his accuracy but still committed to riding out his growing pains.

The reality is, as one ESPN writer puts it, that the Vikings both want to win a Super Bowl and develop McCarthy, and those goals may be "cannibalizing each other."

Pro receiver has said all of the right things and continued to support his young quarterback despite the offense's struggles.

McCarthy’s personal trainer Greg Holcomb didn’t take those comments lightly, calling Carter a “F’kn clown” in a tweet that seemingly has since been deleted, per a Sports Illustrated screen grab. While Holcomb defended McCarthy, head coach Kevin O’Connell admitted on Tuesday that McCarthy has room for improvement.

In the middle of his Monday news conference, in the midst of answering a specific question about the special teams gaffe that proved to be the last thing the Vikings couldn’t overcome in Sunday’s 19-17 loss to the Bears, head coach Kevin O’Connell got to the heart of what is wrong with this year’s 4-6 squad.

There's already chatter in some circles that, in the 2026 offseason, the Vikings will explore trading for 49ers quarterback Mac Jones. In 2024, after Darnold finished one season a

Whether it's J.J. McCarthy's feet and eyes, posture at the top of his drop, arm angle, or decisiveness, the microscope is on the 22-year-old quarterback following a very rough outing in Minnesota's 19-17 loss to the Bears in Week 11.