Kyler Murray said he’s falling behind in the Minnesota offense because OTAs are split between him and J.J. McCarthy, following a rough Monday practice in which he threw back-to-back interceptions during 7-on-7 drills.
For the Minnesota Vikings, this spring was never going to be a gentle “competition” in the way fans imagine it. It’s a real quarterback battle during OTAs between newcomer Kyler Murray and 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy—and after Monday’s practice, the pressure around Murray’s learning curve felt immediate.
Murray. now looking to resurrect his career in Minnesota after things ended poorly with the Arizona Cardinals. came into the offseason facing a setup that doesn’t give him the rhythm of a fully installed starter. During Monday’s practice, he struggled during 7-on-7 drills and threw back-to-back interceptions.
Afterward, Murray told reporters he’s having a hard time learning Minnesota’s new offense while being given limited reps this spring.
“I was (in Arizona) for seven years,” Murray said. “I know I had two different offensive systems (there), but at the same time, you’re getting all those reps. Now I have these split reps. It’s me already being behind. not getting the amount of reps that you would typically want a guy to get learning an offense. That’s probably the toughest part.”.
It’s a familiar kind of fear for a quarterback: not just the offense itself, but the calendar. Murray is widely expected to be the frontrunner heading into training camp in July, yet he’s describing a situation where he feels he’s losing reps he’d normally need to catch up.
If Minnesota wants the best version of Murray ready for the regular season, the team’s next decisions become harder to dodge: more first-team reps as soon as possible. The catch is that Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell wants both quarterbacks to earn the starting job.
That’s why McCarthy—who drew scrutiny after a lackluster season in 2025—still gets meaningful work alongside Murray. even as the clock toward Week 1 starts moving quickly. During OTAs. the Vikings split reps between McCarthy and Murray. and the fight for the top job will ultimately force both to show what they can do once the system and the tempo tighten.
McCarthy, for his part, pushed back on the idea that reps are something he can control. In a statement delivered via video posted by the Vikings. he said. “Those reps being distributed are something that’s outside of my control. The only thing that I’m focusing on is that next rep, and keep it as simple as that.”.
The Vikings won’t be able to keep the decision parked until the summer ends. Eventually. they’ll need to choose a starting quarterback during training camp. and they’ll need either McCarthy or Murray to get reps with the first team when the pads come on this summer so the offense can stay coherent by the time Week 1 arrives.
What Monday made clear is that Murray’s concern isn’t hypothetical. When reps are split, learning can slow—and interceptions can compound the worry fast. O’Connell’s desire for both quarterbacks to earn the job means Murray’s timing problem may follow him straight through the most critical spring weeks.
Minnesota Vikings Kyler Murray J.J. McCarthy OTAs training camp starting quarterback 7-on-7 drills interceptions Kevin O'Connell