The Minnesota Vikings preseason schedule gets underway Saturday with a noon kickoff on the road against the New York Giants.
Newly named Vikings starting quarterback Kyler Murray says it'll be good to finally see some in-game action.
"I'm playing a kid's game. I'm blessed to be here," Murray said this week. "I'm blessed to be able in this position, to be the quarterback of this team with the great guys I have around me, KO calling the plays. Honestly, I just got to go out there and be myself, not try to do too much. This is a great group of guys, great team that I have around me, and I'm excited for it."
With 87 starts over seven years in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, two Pro Bowl selections and a unique elusiveness that has fueled 3,193 career rushing yards, Murray was going to have to either get hurt or badly struggle with his grasp of O’Connell’s offense for McCarthy to keep the job.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell said earlier this week all four quarterbacks would play in the game. That includes J.J. McCarthy who had been in competition with Murray for the starting job through training camp. O'Connell officially named Murray the starter on Tuesday this week.
"Obviously disappointed, you know, I'm a competitor," McCarthy said about not being named starter. "But at the end of the day, it's in the past and I'm moving on to the next practice, the next rep, the same mindset I had going into it. And focusing on the Giants this week."
The Vikings other two QBs in camp are veteran Carson Wentz, and former Gopher Max Brosmer.
“Look, he’s a young player with a whole bunch of outstanding things in his future,” O’Connell said of McCarthy. “I know he’s going to continue to improve, and the long-term mindset of him as a Minnesota Viking and all the things that he’s brought here is still absolutely part of the long-term vision for sure. I’m excited to see him go do that and get to do it with him.”
On the other side of the ball, Vikings safety Theo Jackson says the team's preparation heading into the first of three preseason games has been intense.
"Honestly, we never take these games lightly because it's still an NFL game, no matter who's out," Jackson explains. "It's the same feeling that I go through throughout a regular week, throughout the season. So, I'm taking it very, very seriously. I don't know how many players gonna play, but every rep counts for me."
