The Detroit Lions are thin at quarterback behind Jared Goff after Teddy Bridgewater announced his retirement earlier this month, though the Minnesota Vikings may be on the verge of creating a golden opportunity for their NFC North Division rivals.
Detroit brought in Joshua Dobbs to fill the gap left by Bridgewater, but it appears that undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer has already surpassed Dobbs in the race for the backup quarterback spot. Goff hasn't missed a regular-season contest for the Lions over the past four seasons, but if he does suffer an injury, the offense would probably like a QB2 with at least some NFL experience.
Enter third-year Vikings signal-caller J.J. McCarthy.
Minnesota brought in Kyler Murray this offseason and named him the starter before the first preseason game. Since then, Carson Wentz has outplayed the 23-year-old McCarthy in two contests and started splitting second-team reps with him during practice on Tuesday, August 25.
Vikings expected to trade or cut J.J. McCarthy if he loses the backup QB job
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested on Tuesday evening that McCarthy's time in Minneapolis is likely drawing quickly to a close.
“With Max Brosmer also on the roster, McCarthy could be in danger of not being on the roster by Sunday, when the rosters reduce to 53,” Florio wrote. “The Vikings undoubtedly would try to trade him, since the balance of his 2026 pay ($1.075 million) and all of his 2027 compensation ($3.775 million) are fully guaranteed. The Vikings may have to pay a significant chunk of the money in order to facilitate a deal.”
However, if the Vikings can't find a trade partner, McCarthy could find his way onto the open market via the waiver wire.
“Ultimately, the Vikings may have to simply waive McCarthy,” Florio continued. “However it plays out, it’s not looking good for McCarthy in Minnesota."
The Lions would have an opportunity to claim McCarthy if he made it far enough down the list, meaning that all the teams that finished ahead of Detroit in the 2027 draft order would have to pass on McCarthy for the Lions to get a shot at acquiring him.
The other opportunity would exist in the Lions making a trade offer to the Vikings for McCarthy. They could probably muster a competitive one by putting up a sixth- or seventh-round pick in the upcoming draft, considering how much McCarthy struggled across his 10 starts with the Vikings in 2025.
Detroit would be betting on its ability to develop McCarthy, who missed all of his rookie campaign due to knee surgery.
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