EAGAN, Minn. -- The decision to name Kyler Murray the winner of the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback competition this week was "out of my control," former starter J.J. McCarthy said Wednesday. "Obviously every competitor wants to play," he said. "But moving forward, it's just about continuing to work hard and just staying ready for when my number's called." Asked why he thought the competition was out of his control, McCarthy said: "There's so many things out of my control, like the heat today. And it's just really having the discernment to figure out which of the two [quarterbacks]. And that was one of the things outside of my control and me attacking and optimizing every opportunity which was in my control and that's all I was focusing on."

Coach Kevin O'Connell said Tuesday that McCarthy is now the No. 2 quarterback. But the Vikings also have veteran Carson Wentz on the roster, and a trade could become a possibility. McCarthy, however, said his desire to remain with the Vikings -- who drafted him No. 10 overall in 2024 -- hasn't changed. "This is the place I want to be," McCarthy said. "And I love every single person in this building. I love the state. I love the fan base and I'm going to continue to just do whatever I can for this team and this organization."

The Vikings signed Murray in March, and O'Connell declared an open competition in response to McCarthy's difficult and injury-filled 2025 season. In practical terms, Murray was the heavy favorite. While making the announcement Tuesday, O'Connell said Murray had "shown enough" and that he was enticed in part by "what could be." McCarthy said at the start of camp he was "100%" convinced the competition would be fair. Speaking Tuesday, he said he wasn't thinking about fairness "at all" during the competition. "I couldn't control anything during," he said. "I couldn't control anything after. The only thing I could do is focus on that next rep and keep at it."