J.J. McCarthy in Jamarcus Russell conversation as new data shows magnitude of Vikings QB's disastrous start to NFL career

Minnesota Vikings rookie J.J. McCarthy's struggles through six NFL starts reached historical lows.

He is 851st out of 852 qualified quarterbacks in EPA per dropback since the metric was first recorded in 2000, according to Tru Media data. The only signal-caller below him is former Raiders top pick JaMarcus Russell. His short-lived career is widely regarded as one of the biggest draft busts in league history.

Anthony Amico

@amicsta

J.J. McCarthy now ranks 851 out of 852 in EPA per Dropback among qualified passers since 2000, per Tru Media. The only player below McCarthy is JaMarcus Russell. h/t @Danny_Heifetz on that other website

The discussion intensified following Minnesota’s 23-6 loss to the Packers on Sunday, continuing a difficult debut stretch for the first-year starter.

Expected Points Added evaluates whether a quarterback’s decisions increase or decrease a team’s likelihood of scoring. McCarthy is -0.22 in the category through five appearances, signaling a negative impact on offensive outcomes. His 57.9 passer rating across the season falls into the lower tier of first-round quarterbacks.

J.J. McCarthy’s latest outing deepens Minnesota’s skid

Minnesota Vikings v Green Bay Packers - Source: Getty

J.J. McCarthy struggled versus Green Bay, completing 12 of 19 passes for 87 yards with two interceptions and failing to record a touchdown. His 34.2 passer rating was his lowest of the year and marked the third straight game he finished with multiple turnovers.

Minnesota generated four yards of offense after halftime and surrendered five sacks despite its preferred offensive line combination available for the first time this season. The unit was further strained after second-half ankle injuries to left guard Donovan Jackson and left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

The Vikings (4-7) face an uphill climb to remain in postseason contention with six games left.

Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell pointed to broader breakdowns beyond the quarterback position after the defeat. The team was outplayed in field position, turned the ball over three times and allowed Green Bay to dictate tempo with a heavy rushing attack. The Packers had more than 37 minutes of possession.

McCarthy's growing difficulty reading disguised defensive looks has also been a concern. Data from SumerSports show that he has completed 24 passes for 322 yards without a touchdown while throwing three interceptions in such situations this season.