Suddenly, Vikings Early-Season Promise Could Be Disastrous

Vikings backup quarterback Sam Howell struggled against the New England Patriots. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Here’s the good news for the Minnesota Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy got through the first preseason game of the summer intact with his body intact. After playing a couple of series in the opener against the Houston Texans, head coach Kevin O’Connell called McCarthy to the sidelines and he did not play the rest of the game.

A week later, McCarthy did not take a single snap against the New England Patriots. Instead, the game allowed the head coach and his staff to make a judgement about the team’s backup quarterbacks. Sam Howell, Max Brosmer and Brett Rypien all had a chance to show off their skills and display their understanding of O’Connell’s offense.

Keeping McCarthy on the bench in that 20-12 defeat is a very questionable move by O’Connell, considering that that the quarterback has almost no professional experience. Apparently, O’Connell was satisfied with McCarthy completing 13 passes in a row in a Thursday practice session with the Patriots. He did not want to put his young quarterback at risk by playing him against that same opponent he had torched in a practice session.

Vikings fans are supposed to be satisfied with that. The Vikings have a third and final preseason game Friday night on the road against the Tennessee Titans. Even if McCarthy is allowed to play in that game, it won’t be for more than a series or two.

Is this any way to prepare for the 2025 season? A look at the schedule reveals a midseason run that includes the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens. It would not be a shock if the Vikings either lost 3 of 4 or got swept. That’s why it is essential that the Vikings get off to a brilliant start.

Last year’s team won its first five games, and this year’s schedule reveals that a similar start is possible. It is almost essential that the Vikings go at least 4-1 against the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals followed by two games in Europe against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.

Ignore for a moment that spending consecutive weeks in Ireland and England is likely to drain the team of energy. Apparently, the Vikings and owner Zygi Wilf are thrilled with the idea of the Vikings becoming the NFL’s most beloved team in Europe.

Instead, focus your attention on O’Connell’s cautious approach with a quarterback he apparently believes can lead the team to its first Super Bowl title in the foreseeable future.

O’Connell’s brilliant WR crew has key issues

O’Connell is the NFL’s quarterback whisperer. He has been brilliant at working with Matthew Stafford during his time with the Rams as well as Kirk Cousins and Sam Bradford with the Vikings. That past success does not mean he is infallible. If he is wrong, the brilliant start that the Vikings must have could turn into a disaster that will lead to organizational angst and panic.

The Vikings will not have wide receiver Jordan Addison in any of the first three games because of a league-imposed substance abuse-related suspension. They are hoping to have Justin Jefferson in the lineup even though he has not been practicing due to a hamstring injury suffered early in camp. If he is not going to be at top speed or even playing early in the year, the Vikings are in trouble in those early games.

O’Connell recently offered an update that will not make the Vikings or their fans feel any better. “He’s definitely going to hopefully start doing more and more,” O’Connell said. “I can’t say what that’s going to look like from a practice standpoint yet.”

Here’s where the Vikings stand: Their starting quarterback has had two series under center this summer and a few practice sessions. Their best wide receiver – maybe the best in the NFL – has not even practiced since the first few days of training camp. Their No. 2 receiver – a brilliant speedster and big-play specialist – won’t play for the first three games of the season.

Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate this team. They are supposed to pick up their challenge of the Lions in the NFC North and give the Eagles a run for their money when it comes to NFC superiority. Instead, they may have to scramble for every one of those early games, because they are not going to be at full strength.

O’Connell may start every media session with a smile, but this team appears to have several key questions that are not close to being answered. The results could be disappointing.