J.J. McCarthy flashes big plays but red-zone issues persist

J.J. McCarthy completed 5 of 10 passes for 81 yards and one 50-yard highlight in the Minnesota Vikings' 13-3 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, but familiar red-zone misfires and penalty issues kept Minnesota scoreless on his watch while Carson Wentz looked sharper in relief. With Kyler Murray resting after joint practices, McCarthy started at U.S. Bank Stadium and played the entire first quarter before the backup battle behind Murray grew murkier.

Key Takeaways

• McCarthy went 5-for-10 for 81 yards in the first quarter, including a career-tying 50-yard completion to Tai Felton after escaping pressure.
• Two hard-thrown end-zone misses to Felton and Myles Price ended Minnesota's only red-zone trip with no points.
• Carson Wentz followed with a sharper line: 9 of 11 for 92 yards in the second quarter, keeping the QB2 race open.
• Baltimore won 13-3 behind Tyler Loop field goals and a Joe Fagnano touchdown pass; most Ravens starters rested.
• McCarthy absorbed multiple hits, was sacked once, and was seen wincing on the sideline after his final drive.

What happened in J.J. McCarthy's outing against the Ravens?

Minnesota fell 13-3 in its only home preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Aug. 22, 2026. McCarthy got the start with Murray and the first-team offense resting after two days of joint practices against Baltimore, according to the Star Tribune.

McCarthy played four series with the second-team offense before yielding to Wentz, per ESPN's game recap. He finished 5 of 10 for 81 yards in the first quarter. His best stretch included five consecutive completions, capped by a 50-yarder to Felton—the third-longest completion of his career—after he slipped away from Aeneas Peebles' pressure and delivered a back-shoulder throw.

But the Vikings never scored while McCarthy was on the field. Baltimore's Tyler Loop made two field goals, and undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano threw a touchdown pass to LaJohntay Wester for the Ravens. Fagnano finished 15 of 20 for 123 yards with the deep reserves.

Why did the Vikings stall at the goal line?

The familiar issue was accuracy in the red zone. McCarthy had two glaring misfires early, per NBC Sports: he missed Myles Price on the sideline on the game's first snap, then missed Price again on a short throw at the front of the end zone.

McCarthy's best drive ended at the 1-yard line when he threw a pair of line drives that forced Felton and Price to leap in the back of the end zone. Both passes sailed through their hands, and Minnesota turned the ball over on downs on what became its only red-zone trip of the day.

Penalties and pre-snap problems added friction. After absorbing low hits on back-to-back plays—including a sack by Mike Green—McCarthy completed a pass to Jeshaun Jones that was wiped out by holding. The Vikings also had two false starts with McCarthy at quarterback, continuing a pattern from last November when they committed eight false starts at home against Baltimore.

Who is competing with McCarthy for the backup QB job?

Kyler Murray has already won Minnesota's starting quarterback job. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft, is trying to hold the No. 2 spot—but coach Kevin O'Connell has left the door open for Wentz to potentially leapfrog him, NBC Sports reported.

Wentz entered in the second quarter and was notably more efficient: 9 of 11 for 92 yards, per the Star Tribune. Max Brosmer played the entire second half, going 11 of 17 for 98 yards but throwing an interception to rookie free safety Silas Walters at the Baltimore 18. Minnesota's last two possessions ended in turnovers.

McCarthy missed his rookie year recovering from knee surgery and was limited to 10 starts last season because of multiple injuries, ESPN noted. Saturday's performance showed the same split that has followed him: big-play arm talent paired with costly misses when points were within reach.

What does this loss mean for Minnesota's preseason outlook?

The scoreboard was never the main story. Baltimore rested the majority of its starting lineup after the joint practices, and Minnesota's first-team offense did not play. Still, McCarthy's inability to finish a scoring drive—and Wentz's cleaner second quarter—kept the backup quarterback picture unclear heading into the regular season.

McCarthy was sacked once and hit multiple times during his stint. The Ravens broadcast indicated he was wincing on the sideline after his final drive, raising short-term health questions in a preseason setting where every rep behind Murray carries roster and career stakes.

On defense, several young Vikings stood out even as the offense sputtered. Rookie linebacker Ethan Burke forced a fumble on Jeshaun Jones after an 11-yard reception near midfield. Baltimore's Keondre Jackson led the Ravens with seven tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit.

Minnesota next plays at Denver on the final weekend of preseason games. Baltimore hosts Washington on Friday. For readers tracking how career backup plans and long-term earning paths mirror roster depth—where one missed opportunity can reshuffle the whole chart—our Wealth Hacks & Passive Income hub covers strategies for building resilience when your primary plan faces pressure.