Vikings hold open practice to compare Murray and McCarthy

In Eagan, Minnesota, the Minnesota Vikings opened a portion of their offseason program to reporters on Wednesday, offering the first public glimpse of a quarterback competition between veteran Kyler Murray and third-year player J.J. McCarthy. While head coach Kevin O’Connell has not officially named a starter, Murray is widely viewed as the presumptive favorite for the role.

The practice session was structured to give both players equal opportunity, with each taking a similar number of snaps and throwing to the team’s receivers. Murray, the first overall pick in 2019 who was released by the Arizona Cardinals in March, showcased the experience from his 87 career starts. He made several impressive throws during the session, including a deep completion against a blitz that drew reactions from teammates. After practice, the 28-year-old expressed a settled confidence in his new environment. "My confidence is unshakable," Murray said. "Regardless of what happens, I know the next day I'm coming out here giving my best effort."

McCarthy, 23, was efficient and accurate during drills, showing refined mechanics. However, his post-practice comments struck a more reserved tone compared to...