NFL Rumors: J.J. McCarthy Not Locked in as Vikings' QB2 for Week 1 amid Darnold Buzz

The Minnesota Vikings are not yet committed to J.J. McCarthy as their second-string quarterback even if Sam Darnold gets the nod to start in Week 1, ESPN's Dan Graziano reported.

To secure either the first- or second-string position, McCarthy will need "to keep clearing the specific developmental benchmarks" set by head coach Kevin O'Connell, according to Graziano.

Veteran backup Nick Mullens is also a candidate to serve as the Vikings' primary backup to open the season, Graziano reported.

Whichever signal-caller gets the edge in the depth chart battle could come down to the Vikings preseason, where Graziano expects McCarthy to get "extensive playing time."

Mullens, who has made nine appearances as a backup for the Vikings over the last two seasons, enters the preseason as more of a known quantity than 2024 NFL draft pick McCarthy.

That could be part of the reason he is not slated to play during the Vikings' preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday. Darnold is expected to start, followed by McCarthy in his NFL debut, O'Connell told reporters Thursday.

Jaren Hall, the 2023 fifth-round pick who made three appearances for the Vikings last season, could also see playing time after McCarthy on Saturday, O'Connell noted.

Signed in March days after longtime quarterback Kirk Cousins agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons, Darnold was named the team's QB1 before training camp.

He has since been the quarterback of choice for "nearly all" of the reps done by the Vikings' first-team offense, ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported. Not surprisingly, he was listed atop the initial depth chart released on Tuesday.

Both Seifert and Graziano reported, however, that O'Connell has yet to confirm Darnold will be starting against the New York Giants during the Sept. 8 regular-season opener.

O'Connell indicated that most of the Vikings' healthy starters would receive some playing time on Saturday, except for key veterans like Justin Jefferson and Harrison Smith.