Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has had a rollercoaster 2025 NFL season, which is his first as the team’s starter. McCarthy has dealt with the highs and lows that come with playing what is technically his rookie season, considering he didn’t play in 2024.
In Year 1 as the starter, McCarthy has a passer rating of 71.2 with 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in nine games this season as the Vikings enter the last game of the season against the Green Bay Packers in Week 18.
Ahead of that game on January 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium, Justin Jefferson spoke to the media and shared his take on whether McCarthy can be the team that can lead them back to the playoffs in 2026.
“I would love for him to be here,” Jefferson said on January 1 about McCarthy being the team’s starter next season. “Of course, I would love for him to be the quarterback, especially off of this year. I feel like he needs to show everybody and prove to everybody that he is that top-tier quarterback.
“I would love to have him, and I love to work with him and show everybody he is that number one guy. But I feel like it starts in the offseason, starts that offseason work and building that connection, eliminating those habits that he had that we felt hindered him throughout the season.
“Just working on those little bitty pits of his game. But he’s still young. He still has learning to do and growing to do. That’s all part of the game. But it’s up to me to require more from him and to work with him more.”
Vikings’ QB Outlook This Upcoming Offseason
There are questions over McCarthy and what type of quarterback the Vikings should pursue this offseason. With the Michigan product dealing with multiple injuries during his first season as the starter, Minnesota does need a reliable backup.
However, the question is whether the Vikings should pursue a signal-caller who can just be a backup or one who can challenge him as QB1. There’s also the option for Minnesota to seek a replacement for McCarthy as the starting quarterback.
Malik Willis Floated as Vikings QB Option
On the December 30 edition of “The Alec Lewis Show,” The Athletic’s Alec Lewis listed multiple quarterback options that the Vikings might consider, like Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers. Nonetheless, there’s another name from within the division, Packers’ Malik Willis.
“Kind of a newcomer, probably to list in Malik Willis, who has looked really, really good stepping in for Jordan Love in Green Bay. The system familiarity matters. He hasn’t thrown a ton over the middle of the field. So, that would definitely be something the Vikings would have to sift through. And then what is his contract going to look like?
“Like maybe Miami or Las Vegas or another team. Indianapolis even views Malik Willis as someone they want to make a sizable bet on. How far would the Vikings be willing to go? So that’s kind of the realm that these four names are in.”
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