NFL news: Vikings not currently pursuing four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers: report
The Minnesota Vikings are standing firm with JJ McCarthy as their starting quarterback amidst the swirling rumors of Aaron Rodgers hitting the free agency market. The team has reportedly turned down multiple trade inquiries for McCarthy and is committed to moving forward with the 2024 first-round pick leading their offense, according to a recent NFL Network report.
While the Vikings are not actively pursuing Rodgers at the moment, they do plan to bring in a veteran quarterback to work alongside McCarthy. The decision to stick with McCarthy comes after his promising performance during the preseason last year, where he showcased his talent by completing 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns without any interceptions. Unfortunately, McCarthy’s season was cut short due to a torn meniscus that required surgery in August.
The injury opened the door for Sam Darnold to take over as the Vikings’ starting quarterback, and he excelled throughout the season. Darnold led the team to a 14-3 record, completing over 66% of his passes for 4,319 yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. However, his performances in the final two games of the season raised some concerns.
In a crucial matchup against the Detroit Lions with the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed on the line, Darnold struggled, completing just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards in a 31-9 loss. The defeat forced the Vikings into a wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams, where they fell short, losing 27-9. Darnold once again struggled, completing 25–40 passes for 245 yards with one touchdown and one interception while being sacked nine times.
Following these disappointing outings, the Vikings opted to let Darnold walk in free agency. He eventually signed a lucrative three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. With Darnold out of the picture and the team not actively pursuing Rodgers, head coach Kevin O’Connell seems prepared to hand the reins over to McCarthy for the upcoming season.
However, if the Vikings decide to ramp up their pursuit of Rodgers should he remain unsigned, it could indicate a shift in their plans regarding their starting quarterback position. For now, all eyes are on McCarthy as he prepares to lead the Vikings’ offense in the upcoming season.
The Vikings’ decision to stick with McCarthy over pursuing Rodgers adds an interesting twist to the ongoing quarterback carousel in the NFL. Fans will have to wait and see how things unfold as the offseason progresses.
