Sam Darnold has been listed as the Minnesota Vikings’ go-to guy — unofficially.
The Vikings released an unofficial depth chart on Tuesday ahead of their preseason opener against the Raiders on Saturday, with Darnold listed as the starter and “J.J. McCarthy OR Nick Mullens” as the backup.
Fans waiting to see McCarthy, the tenth overall pick in the 2024 draft, start under center will have to wait, at least for now.
The Vikings still have some work to do with the Michigan product.
“J.J. McCarthy, unsurprisingly, has shown himself a fast study,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported on Monday. “The accuracy and arm the Vikings saw on tape are there, as are the intangibles—his work ethic in particular. That said, Minnesota is still working through his fundamentals and footwork in accordance with their scheme, and that, again, as expected, is taking some time.”
Darnold, 27, came to the Vikings in free agency on a one-year, $10 million deal, with head coach Kevin O’Connell hoping he will fill the void of Kirk Cousins, who left town for Atlanta.
O’Connell then drafted McCarthy, the emerging star, hoping the tandem would create a “competitive situation.“
Their eagerness to push each other at training camp raised the eyebrows of teammates.
“They’re both different types of quarterbacks,” Jefferson told reporters last week. “Sam is more of a vet quarterback, he likes to put touch on the ball here and there, he knows what speed he needs to throw the ball and how he needs to throw the ball. J.J.’s still young and just wants to rip it all the time. [He] has that strong arm and wants to get it there.”
Over the span of 56 career starts, Darnold — who began his NFL career with the Jets in 2018 — has posted 12,064 passing yards, 63 touchdowns and 56 interceptions.
McCarthy, on the other hand, is coming off a fiery college career with the Wolverines.
He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection with a 27-1 record as a starter and had the best winning percentage for any college quarterback (96.4) since Toledo’s Chuck Ealey in 1971, capped off with a 2023 national championship.
McCarthy had a 72.3 passing completion percentage in that timeframe, with 2,991 yards and 22 touchdowns.
He may not be getting the start on Saturday, but he figures to get plenty of chances in Minnesota.
“We do have a plan for J.J. – a long-term plan,” O’Connell told “The Rich Eisen Show” earlier this summer.”We see him as our quarterback of the future, and when that ultimately starts, with him taking game reps under center, will really be about that process of getting there and demonstrating that he’s got total comfort in the system.”
