The Minnesota Vikings have high hopes for J.J. McCarthy.
However, the quarterback hasn’t looked ready in his first two NFL games, and the metrics back up the eye test.
As shown by The Purple Persuasion, McCarthy is either last or close to the bottom in several major categories.
After Week 2, he ranks 33rd in passer rating, meaning he’s last among eligible quarterbacks.
He’s also last in EPA per dropback, next-to-last in ANY/A, QB ELO, PFF grade and QBR, and 31st in CPOE.
Various QB metric rankings for Vikings J.J. McCarthy through 2 weeks (out of 33 eligible QBs):
– Passer Rating: 33rd
– QBR: 32nd
– CPOE: 31st
– EPA per Dropback: 33rd
– ANY/A: 32nd
– QB ELO: 32nd
– PFF: 32ndIf you don’t like statistics, well it’s simple…
Not good. pic.twitter.com/YaYZCwccKf
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) September 17, 2025
He has shown glimpses of strong play, especially in the fourth quarter of a Week 1 win against the Chicago Bears, but the consistency hasn’t been there.
He couldn’t get anything going against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 and their much-improved pass rush.
To be fair, the Vikings’ offensive line has left a lot to be desired, and he’s constantly facing pressure or a collapsed pocket.
There’s only so much he can do when he’s given no time or space to operate.
But he’s also looked quite raw at times, especially with his three interceptions.
Kevin O’Connell is a talented head coach with a well-balanced offensive system, and he should be able to put McCarthy in a position to succeed.
However, if the struggles persist after he returns from a high ankle sprain, the Vikings may want to give him even more time on the sidelines.
NEXT: Stat Shows Worrisome Trend For Vikings' Offensive Line
