Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is no longer fighting for the team’s starting job, but he is trying to solidify his spot as the backup to Kyler Murray and Saturday’s game against the Ravens was a decidedly mixed effort on that front.
McCarthy was 5-of-10 for 81 yards, including a 50-yard strike to wide receiver Tai Felton that set the Vikings up in the red zone in the first quarter. McCarthy had a pair of opportunities to turn that field position into a touchdown, but missed Felton in the back of the end zone on second down and overthrew a wide open Myles Price on fourth down from the 1-yard-line.
After the game, McCarthy called those “throws I’ve got to make.”
“I know I can make those throws,” McCarthy said, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. “And it’s great to have that experience logged in and that data logged in to be able to make that throw next time.”
McCarthy was sacked once and hit on other plays in his quarter of work. He was asked if he felt he was sped up on the misfires.
“I wouldn’t say I felt sped up,” McCarthy said. “It’s just sometimes you hit them, sometimes you miss. And it’s . . . what preseason’s all about. You get it out now and log that feeling, like I said, and make sure you hit it the next time.”
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said McCarthy was “a little hobbled” after the game, but McCarthy said he doesn’t anticipate missing any time. Carson Wentz, who would likely be the backup if O’Connell opts to go away from McCarthy, was 9-of-11 for 92 yards during his time in Saturday’s game.
