Updated

Updated · Daily Norseman · Aug 19

Vikings Elevate Jacob Thomas After 82.3 Special Teams Grade, Drop J.J. McCarthy in QB Race

Updated

Updated · Daily Norseman · Aug 19

Vikings Elevate Jacob Thomas After 82.3 Special Teams Grade, Drop J.J. McCarthy in QB Race

Q: After a shaky preseason debut, is a highly touted rookie quarterback already losing his grip on the depth chart to veteran backups?

No — not from one preseason game, but J.J. McCarthy’s grip has clearly weakened. The clearest signal is that Kyler Murray has already been named Minnesota’s starter, so McCarthy is no longer fighting for QB1 after an uneven 2025 and a shaky preseason opener. In the 13-10 win over the Giants, McCarthy went 4-of-7 for 34 yards, took a sack, had a mistimed opening play and an errant throw, and failed to generate much rhythm with the second-team offense. That performance did little to quiet concerns about his readiness. What changed most Saturday was the backup picture behind Murray. Carson Wentz looked composed in extended work, finishing 6-of-11 for 56 yards and a touchdown, and multiple reports out of the game said he strengthened his case as the clear QB2. Murray, meanwhile, was efficient in limited snaps, directing a scoring drive and operating the offense cleanly. That does not mean McCarthy is out of Minnesota’s plans. Coach Kevin O’Connell has continued to frame him as part of the team’s long-term vision, noting that he has played only 10 regular-season games and still has development runway. But the immediate reality is less favorable: McCarthy now appears behind Murray for the starting job and, based on the preseason opener, is under pressure from Wentz for positioning on the depth chart. The next real test will be the joint practices with Baltimore. If McCarthy responds well there, this can still look like an early stumble rather than a major slide.

3 articles · Updated · Daily Norseman · Aug 19

Jacob Thomas emerged as the biggest riser from Minnesota’s first preseason game, pairing an 82.3 special teams grade with an interception, two special teams tackles and early first-team practice reps.
Quarterback evaluations also shifted: Carson Wentz looked increasingly like QB2 after handling a half-game workload, while J.J. McCarthy’s mistimed opening play and late, inaccurate throw deepened concerns about his readiness.
Myles Price helped his roster case with 4 catches for 51 yards, and linemen Ryan Van Demark, Walter Rouse and Henry Byrd boosted their standing by allowing little or no pressure.
Jamal Adams took the sharpest hit after suffering a season-ending right knee injury, while Caleb Tiernan, Caleb Banks and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins were flagged for ineffective or inconsistent play.
The evaluations come as Minnesota heads into joint practices with Baltimore on Wednesday and Thursday, where fringe roster battles should get a clearer next test.