Justin Jefferson: J.J. McCarthy needs to 'lock in' with Kyler Murray now a Viking

To put it lightly, J.J. McCarthy's de facto NFL rookie season last year was an unmitigated disaster.

Among other lowlights, McCarthy finished 33rd in passing yards, 35th in completion percentage, and was tied for the fifth-most interceptions thrown (12). While his Minnesota Vikings still managed to finish with a winning record, it'd be hard to say McCarthy had much of a huge role in that mark. There's a good reason that former Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray is now in Minnesota.

At worst, Murray will take McCarthy's tenuous starting spot. At best, he'll push him to reach his potential. There is no real middle ground here.

It's a harsh reality for McCarthy that Vikings superstar teammate Justin Jefferson was all too happy to emphasize during a press conference on Monday. In fact, listen to Jefferson speak, and it sure seems like he's operating as if McCarthy won't even get a real chance to play in 2026. How else do you explain the perennial All-Pro talking up Murray's playmaking ability while also maintaining that McCarthy has to be ready to take a backseat (on the bench) again?

That, to me, sounds like an elite receiver excited about a quarterback who he thinks will actually consistently get him the ball when he gets open:

If Jefferson, the Vikings' clear franchise player, feels comfortable saying this in public, then the writing is probably already on the wall for McCarthy. Either distinguish yourself from Murray in a healthy competition in the coming months, or find a warm spot on the bench. Full stop. With Murray in tow, it's apparent the Vikings don't want to waste another season on McCarthy if he doesn't show meaningful improvement.

The NFL is a harsh business, and it's time for McCarthy to step up if he wants to keep his job.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Justin Jefferson said Kyler Murray is threat to J.J. McCarthy's job