Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) reacts with wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) after rushing for a touchdown against the New York Giants during the first half at MetLife Stadium.
Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) reacts with wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) after rushing for a touchdown against the New York Giants during the first half at MetLife Stadium.
According to those who were at TCO Performance Center on Saturday, Kyler Murray had yet another difficult day at Minnesota Vikings training camp.
From the videos and reports floating around, it was even worse than his performance one day earlier, a practice that was previously described as his worst of the summer.
Suddenly, there’s a little bit of pressure on Minnesota’s newly signed quarterback to show out Sunday night in front of a packed TCO Stadium out in Eagan, along with millions of people that will undoubtedly be watching live on FOX9 (or their stream).
Tonight’s Vikings practice will be live on @FOX9 and their YouTube page for those who cannot attend.
— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) August 9, 2026
There probably would be more pressure on Kyler to perform under the lights this evening, if JJ McCarthy was performing better, to this point at camp. Instead, even when the 23-year-old out of Michigan has been at his best this summer, he’s only looks slightly better than Murray, at his worst.
Conversely, the MN Vikings offense has been at its best during 2026 training camp when Kyler Murray’s been cooking as the first team QB. Only then, really, have the Vikings shown any ability whatsoever to move the ball downfield in chunks.
Only one Minnesota Vikings QB is feeding Justin Jefferson at training camp
When McCarthy has been under center, it’s been a lot of underneath stuff and way more work out of the first team rushing attack. Oh, and then there’s the Justin Jefferson factor, which could be the most important thing to pay attention to.
Because according to Vikings insider and beat reporter Matthew Coller, on Saturday night’s episode of the Purple Insider podcast, not only is McCarthy struggling to push the ball downfield, but he’s having issues getting the football to Minnesota’s superstar wide receiver.
Justin Jefferson and J.J. McCarthy ARE NOT connecting on passes much, if at all, so far in Vikings training camp, according to @MatthewColler.
A big sign why Kyler Murray will be QB1 👀
“just in this camp, that connection has not happened at all [between Jefferson and… pic.twitter.com/jWg6ZJQcbR
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 9, 2026
YouTube Comment (@joshuam3182): “How do you rank or rate the chemistry with uh Jefferson with JJ and with Kyler Murray? …“
Coller: “I mean it’s zero with JJ McCarthy. It’s just zero. Like there hasn’t been any passes between those two. I don’t mean there’s literally been no passes between those two, but it’s very, very few. During 11 vs 11s, 7 vs 7s, very few connections between McCarthy and Jefferson in this camp. And there’s been a ton with Kyler Murray.”
To be frank, when I saw this clip (great find by our friends at The Purple Persuasion) it was a little bit jarring. Those watching closely all expect Kyler Murray to win this job, in the end.
But if JJ McCarthy hasn’t been able to get the football to Justin Jefferson, through two weeks of training camp — and Coller isn’t just suggesting as much, he’s laying it out as fact — then this QB battle is definitely over.
Kyler Murray having no such issues
Especially when targeting and completing passes to Justin Jefferson has not been an issue for Kyler Murray, who — especially on his good days — has found his superstar on a regular basis throughout the summer… sometimes even when the decision may have been questionable.
“Pretty much every day [Murray and Jefferson] have had completed passes. Even Murray had a tough day yesterday and hit one of his best passes to Jefferson going to the sideline.
They had a huge day together where I think there was five different times they connected in 11 on 11’s… On Friday Kyler had an up and down day but he ended the practice with a great throw to Jefferson on a deep post.
I mean, it’s been pretty good I think with Murray and Jefferson so far and with JJ I’m not even sure how many targets he’s had throwing to Jefferson because a lot of times when he’s been in with the 1’s it’s been underneath stuff.”
Failing to connect with Jefferson this summer is bad enough, but struggling to get the ball in the hands of football’s best wide receiver isn’t a new phenomenon for McCarthy.
Finding Jefferson isn’t a new problem for JJ McCarthy
Last season, Justin Jefferson caught 44 of his 84 receptions via throws from JJ McCarthy, despite playing 10 of 17 games with the third-year QB under center. A closer look makes it even worse. Just three times in 2025 did Jefferson even exceed 62 yards receiving, JJ McCarthy as his quarterback.
Only once did the superstar wideout eclipse 100 yards receiving and it was week 18 against the Packers. Jefferson had just three century-mark games last season. Two came in back-to-back weeks with Carson Wentz at QB.
If Kyler Murray is already building a nice rapport with Justin Jefferson, and McCarthy is going on yet another year where he can’t find him, then it becomes even more important to give those extra starting reps to Murray. We’ll see when KOC decides to make that move official.