Vikings rest McCarthy Week 2 preseason

Vikings shift focus from game reps to joint practices to develop J J McCarthy while Sam Howell starts Week 2.

McCarthy sits Week 2 preseason as Vikings prioritize practice reps

The Vikings will not have JJ McCarthy on the field for Week 2 of the preseason against the Patriots, with Sam Howell starting in his place. Minnesota has been leaning on joint practices this week to give reps to its key players, a strategy that emphasizes development without counting a noncompetitive game. Coaches noted McCarthy’s heavy involvement in practice sessions and described those reps as productive so far.

On Thursday, coach Kevin O’Connell called McCarthy’s performance decisive and marked by conviction in his ball location and decision-making. The team also plans to keep him in a red jersey to minimize contact between games, highlighting a focus on long-term health and readiness for the regular season.

The move fits a growing trend in which teams use joint practices to evaluate young quarterbacks without risking injuries in preseason games. It reflects a shift toward protecting reps for a player who could shape the Vikings’ future, while still giving him real-world testing in drills with an actual opponent. This approach can speed up learning, but it also delays a pure game evaluation, which some fans expect from preseason.

For Sam Howell, the Week 2 start signals that Minnesota remains open to multiple pathways for the quarterback depth chart. If McCarthy stays healthy and continues to show progress in practice, the Vikings could still place him on a rapid development track that leverages practice grit over extended game exposure. The balance chosen here underscores a cautious, strategic view of McCarthy’s ceiling and the team’s timing for a potential breakthrough.

Highlights

The road to Week 1 is a careful climb, not a sprint.