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By Matthew Davis
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Amid the early going of the Minnesota Vikings quarterback competition between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray, NFL insider Ben Solak of ESPN sees where things are heading.
Solak called it "a legitimate quarterback competition" versus one that's just for show. That's despite the Vikings signing Murray this offseason after McCarthy struggled in his first year as a starter.
“Unlike a quarterback who just changed jobs, Kyler only gets 50% of the first-team reps because J.J. McCarthy is out there,” Solak said during ESPN's SportsCenter on July 30. “McCarthy looks better, frankly, because he’s been in this offense before. He’s thrown to these receivers before. He has a better understanding of the system and a better handle on it."
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“That’s why this is a legitimate quarterback competition, because Kyler needs to get up to speed," Solak added. "That is a process that will take a couple of weeks, and then we’ll see if and when the Vikings are ready to name a starting quarterback for Week 1.”
McCarthy started 10 games last season amid injuries and posted a 6-4 record in those contests. Murray, a former No. 1 pick, played only five games last year with the Arizona Cardinals due to a foot injury and the Cardinals' decision to start Jacoby Brissett instead.
Solak's assessment comes as no surprise since Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell indicated at the outset of training camp that it would be an open competition between the two. While McCarthy showed his command of the offense, Solak noted Murray's struggles with passes to star wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
That's not a total surprise for a second day of training camp, as Solak acknowledged. The tests will be keep coming for both quarterbacks, and then, the first preseason game against the New York Giants will arrive on Aug. 15.
Until then or beyond, Vikings fans can't make any assumptions about who is going to win the starting job.
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