Vikings HC Updates Kyler Murray-J.J. McCarthy Battle After a Day 1 QB Reportedly 'Would Like Back'

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback competition is in full swing as Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy look to establish themselves as the starter.

ESPN's Lindsey Thiry noted that Tuesday was a day Murray "would like back" after throwing a pair of interceptions. Kevin O'Connell didn't offer much in terms of when he'll make a decision about who the starter will be.

"I have an idea of the appropriate time to then transition to preparing whoever that player's gonna be to get ready to go," O'Connell said. "...We've got a great plan in place. We want to make sure that when we get to training camp, we've got a great plan.

"You don't have a ton of time. But it does set up well to check a lot of boxes from a standpoint of elevating that room, letting the competition play out, but also being able to make a decision and move forward the best way that we know."

Murray is coming off a rough season with the Arizona Cardinals, in which he threw for just 962 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions while playing just five games amid injuries.

The Cardinals released Murray after the season, leading him to sign with the Vikings in March.

McCarthy, who missed all of his rookie season, had a forgettable 2025 campaign as well, throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 games. Bringing in a veteran quarterback could understandably shake McCarthy's confidence, but he said last month that he's focused on getting better.

"Look, the organization made a decision that they feel like is going to improve the depth and the quality of the room," McCarthy told reporters. "All I'm thinking about is continuing the upward trajectory that I set for myself last season -- that last quarter of the season — and continuing to be the best version of me every single day."

Given his experience, it's fair to assume that Murray has the upper hand in the quarterback competition. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted that Murray is carrying himself like a starter this offseason.

"I talked to sources in the building who said Kyler Murray has handled himself like an alpha quarterback. He's walked in with the experience and the swagger you would expect from a guy who's been to Pro Bowls and had success," Fowler said on NFL Live last week. "He's also taken the offense very quickly, he's absorbed it in a hurry, so the expectation leaguewide is that he will have the leg up."

Fowler added that McCarthy "has shown some things this spring that have been impressive so far."

The Vikings have their mandatory minicamp this week and OTAs next week, so both quarterbacks will look to make the most of those opportunities before getting into training camp later this summer.