Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has announced that quarterback Sam Darnold will be given the majority of first-team reps during the team’s training camp, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.
Despite the presence of rookie J.J. McCarthy, who was the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft, Darnold is set to start as the No. 1 quarterback on the team’s depth chart. O’Connell emphasized that while he doesn’t have a fixed depth chart, Darnold’s status as the top quarterback reflects his current standing.
Although Darnold is positioned as the starter, McCarthy will still receive significant practice time with the first team. O’Connell aims to foster a competitive environment at training camp, with the goal of assessing both quarterbacks thoroughly. Despite Darnold being the early frontrunner, the coaching staff is keen on seeing a strong performance from McCarthy to evaluate his potential as a future starter.
McCarthy, who had a standout final year at Michigan with impressive statistics and a national championship victory, will need to demonstrate exceptional performance during training camp to secure the starting role over Darnold. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, McCarthy would need to be “all-world” in his performance over the next six weeks to displace Darnold as the starter.
Darnold brings a significant amount of experience to the table, having spent six years in the NFL, though his career has been marked by periods as a backup. Despite his struggles to establish a consistent performance as a starter, there is the belief within the Vikings’ organization that Darnold still has untapped potential that could be realized.
As training camp progresses, Darnold will have the opportunity to showcase his abilities and prove his worth. The competition between Darnold and McCarthy will be closely monitored, with the outcome potentially shaping the future of the Vikings’ quarterback position.
