J.J. McCarthy wants to stay with Vikings after losing QB job - ESPN

J.J. McCarthy said the Vikings' decision to name Kyler Murray the starting quarterback was "out of my control," speaking Wednesday after coach Kevin O'Connell designated him as the No. 2 quarterback earlier in the week.
McCarthy, whom Minnesota drafted 10th overall in 2024, said he still wants to remain with the team, expressing love for the state, the fanbase and the organization despite losing the job.
O'Connell opened the competition after McCarthy's difficult, injury-filled 2025 season, and the Vikings signed Murray in March; the coach said Murray had "shown enough" and cited "what could be."
Murray was considered the heavy favorite, though his uneven training camp performance added complexity to O'Connell's decision.
The Vikings also carry veteran Carson Wentz on the roster, and a trade involving McCarthy could become a possibility.
Though McCarthy earlier compared the quarterback room to a high school classroom with him and Murray on opposite sides, he now describes Murray as a teammate he cares for and respects, and said he stayed focused only on things within his control.