Kyler Murray named starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings

[p]Having signed in the offseason on a one-year a $1.3 million deal, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/murray-kyler/8Y4dibci/"]Murray[/a] is favoured as the starting quarterback over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mccarthy-j-j/KODgflGe/"]J.J. McCarthy[/a], formerly of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/michigan-wolverines/fyJPd2qM/"]Michigan[/a]. The 29-year-old was released by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arizona-cardinals/6guNl5qr/"]Arizona Cardinals[/a] after having spent his first seven years in the league with them.[/p][p]Murray is the fourth different quarterback to be given the starting role over the last four years, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cousins-kirk/lAwzTD0t/"]Kirk Cousins[/a] (2023), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/darnold-sam/zykWdDh4/"]Sam Darnold[/a] (2024), and McCarthy (2025) previously getting the nod.[/p][p]"[b]After some ‌dialogue in-house and daily analyzing the overall of where we're at right now, ‌we did name Kyler Murray as our starting quarterback,[/b]" said the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-vikings/IsfjpsbD/"]Vikings[/a] head coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-connell-kevin/U5xIYdvT/"]Kevin O'Connell[/a]. "[b]It's ‌been a true competition, and we feel like we're at a place ‌where we made a complete evaluation.[/b]"[/p][p]O'Connell also stated that Murray and McCarthy were made aware about the decision in a meeting among the trio, as well as general manager Nolan Teasley.[/p][p]McCarthy had joined the team as a first-round pick back in 2024, replacing Darnold at the beginning of last season after the latter departed as a free agent to join the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/seattle-seahawks/f5h1oOee/"]Seattle Seahawks[/a].[/p][p]Other quarterbacks on the Vikings' roster include former Super Bowl champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wentz-carson/ze3nQl4M/"]Carson Wentz[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brosmer-max/xvZx22gK/"]Max Brosmer[/a].[/p][p]Both Murray and McCarthy are set to see game time in the team's first pre-season game on Saturday versus the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-giants/lIrBvlxF/"]New York Giants[/a], according to O'Connell.[/p][embed guid="bf2add24-2ef7-444f-b454-d249c38dc77a" url="https://x.com/NFL/status/2087213691833897300?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Murray is a former top pick, as the Cardinals chose him first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft out of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/oklahoma-sooners/hrNy9WRg/"]Oklahoma[/a]. During his time in Arizona, he picked up the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2019 and made two Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021.[/p][p]"[b]There's comfort from Kyler in the scheme[/b]," O'Connell said. "[b]He had some really high completion days where he was able to show some really, really good understanding of just putting the ball in play, playing with great timing and rhythm. … As you continue ‌to look at the body of work really through those 10 days, what jumped out is what could be[/b]."[/p][p]Murray only played five games in 2025 before his season came to a premature end due to a foot injury. In total, he threw for 962, six touchdowns, and three interceptions, while managing just 173 rushing yards and one rushing TD.[/p][p]In the last five years, Murray ended up playing a full season only once. He has a 38-48-1 record across 87 career games, with a 67.1% completion rate, 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns, and 60 picks. He also has contributed 3,193 rushing yards for 32 touchdowns.[/p][p]McCarthy has also had injury problems during his short time in the league. He was picked 10th overall in the 2024 Draft, missing his rookie year due to a torn meniscus.[/p][p]So far, the former Wolverine has had 10 starts, with a completion percentage of 57.6% for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Moreover, he has 181 yards and four scores, owning a 6-4 record.[/p][p]"[b](He is an) incredibly important member of our quarterback room and our team,[/b]" O'Connell about McCarthy.[/p]