Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is busy working with the team in the OTAs. As the team prepares, he is keeping busy with the practice drills, sharing them with fellow quarterback Kyler Murray, as the injury-plagued QB readies himself for a starting role battle.

McCarthy calls it as he sees it and has spoken about the practice ritual at the training camp. From how it's going, it seems he is a little frustrated about having to share the training reps with Kyler Murray

"Those reps being distributed are something out of my control, and the only thing I am focusing on is the next rep and keep it as simple as that," said McCarthy, "I think I made it very clear I wanted to be here before I got here. And I love this organization. I love the coaching staff. I absolutely love these players to death. This is where I want to be".

McCarthy doesn't seem ecstatic about sharing the drills. Still, he also said he loves the team and plans to stay with the Vikings as opposed to wanting to be traded away.

Training ground reports suggest that Kyler Murray did start the day as the No. 1 QB. However, as the training commenced, McCarthy overshadowed him. The 7-on-7 drills showed McCarthy edging out Murray.

That being said, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell still hasn't decided on who the starter will be. Yet he did admit on June 9th that he has a future date in mind when he will decide on a permanent starter.

Meanwhile, the irritation regarding the limited practice time is becoming public. As a result, the Minnesota Vikings head coach had no other choice but to address the matter.

Kevin O'Connell Gives His Take On The Shared Reps

The ongoing dispute about the split reps has become an internal point of discussion. Both Murray and J.J. McCarthy have spoken about it indirectly.

O'Connell recently addressed the matter and how the reps are planned for the upcoming weeks.

“I know what he (Murray) was intending, it was very similar to conversations we’ve had privately, and even as a group, with me in the quarterback room a little bit more, I would say this time of year, based by the rules and also how we handle it, it is a foundation to build off of," said O'Connell.

The coach stresses that he is not looking to go at full blast. Rather, he wants to focus his attention on learning so that he can also watch others in action.

"Every rep obviously matters, but this time of year, the beauty of not going full speed on a lot of reps is you can get a lot out of watching other guys’ reps as well, so I think that’s taken place. I think there’s been great learning that’s taking place," concluded O'Connell.

McCarthy did impress in the initial training. Yet that doesn't discredit Murray by any means. So the fight is still on for the QB1 slot. The Vikings will soon have an answer on who that will be.

Read more at Quarter Back Central!

Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote