Jason La Canfora Jason La Canfora has covered the NFL full-time since 2004. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 9: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 9, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Recent former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy was never going to be able to muster sufficient competition, and this “position battle” was effectively over once Murray got in the building. After so much time lost to injury already, it would be surprising if McCarthy was long for Minnesota. “They knew they couldn’t bring him back as the starter and keep that locker room together,” one GM told me this offseason.