Cris Carter slams JJ McCarthy: “The Vikings are stuck with J.J."

The 2025-26 NFL season hasn't been what Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy envisioned it to be. Now, more salt was poured onto the wound. 

During an interview with Cardplayer.com, legendary Viking and Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter said, regardless of how McCarthy plays and whether the fans want the team to get rid of the second-year player, the 2024 first-round draft pick isn't going anywhere.

“The Vikings are stuck with J.J.,” Carter told CardPlayer. “They just drafted him two years ago, and they are stuck with him. There’s really no legitimate Plan B right now. Do they have to have a backup? Yes. But all this stuff about trading for another guy – they don’t have the cap space. 

“They spent so much cash this year on the rest of the team so they could have a quarterback on a rookie contract. That is a very efficient business model in the NFL, and that was their plan. That’s why they let Sam (Darnold) go, and why Danny Dimes is in Indianapolis. They decided J.J. McCarthy was going to be their guy, and that’s not going to stop at the end of the season.”

McCarthy has been in and out of the lineup in his first full NFL season with various ailments after not playing in his rookie campaign due to meniscus surgery. In watching McCarthy play, Carter can see what the issues are.

“It’s inconsistency in the pocket, footwork being erratic – throwing off his front foot and his plant foot coming off the ground," Carter said. "Lack of variance in the throws between intermediate, hot, and long range. He only has one speed, and that’s a fastball. That’s always going to be a problem.”

But it's not negativity on Carter's end. McCarthy had a strong Week 14 effort against the Washington Commanders, throwing for 163 yards and three touchdown passes in a 31-0 victory.

“It was good to see J.J. have a good game," Carter said. "Probably his best game as a pro. Washington, of course, is in the 30s as far as ranks from a defensive standpoint. So Santa Claus came to town just a little bit early for the Vikings and their passing attack. Let’s see if they can grow it.”

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