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Vikings Cutting QB J.J. McCarthy Today? Fuhgeddaboudit

Posted on August 30, 2026August 30, 2026 by David Shama

Enjoy a Sunday notes column.

NFL rosters must be reduced to 53 men tonight (Sunday) by 5 p.m. Minneapolis time. Any speculation the Vikings will cut disappointing third year quarterback J.J. McCarthy from their roster is ludicrous.

McCarthy, who has won six regular-season games as the team’s starter and lost the No. 1 job to Kyler Murray in training camp this summer, could be traded over the weekend or later. Dismiss any speculation, though, the Vikings will give him up for a late round future draft choice, or cut him for the roster with nothing in return.

J.J. McCarthy, Vikings QB, image by David Shama — J.J. McCarthy

The likely scenario is the Vikings won’t receive trade offers that entice them, and it makes sense that decision makers Kevin O’Connell (head coach) and Nolan Teasley (general manager) aren’t giving up so soon on Minnesota’s 2024 first round draft choice. Even if the 23-year-old is going to be replaced for now by Carson Wentz as backup quarterback, it doesn’t mean McCarthy can’t follow a path where he emerges as at least a serviceable NFL starter.

Other predictions about today’s cutdown include a nod here to rookie Brett Thorson winning the punting job from veteran Johnny Hekker, and linebacker Ivan Pace and offensive tackle Walter Rouse, both veterans, being cut. Bubble RB Zavier Scott makes the team but second-year former Golden Gopher QB Max Brosmer does not.

It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the Vikings add a player or two from the Seahawks roster after they make their cuts, partly because Teasley, as a former Seattle executive, worked for the organization for 13 seasons.

Promising Vikings rookie defensive lineman Domonique Orange has potential to have one of the better nicknames in franchise history. Known as “Big Citrus,” he is listed by the team at 6-2 and 322 pounds. If he becomes a mainstay his handle can be up there with “Harry the Hitman” (Harrison Smith), “All Day” Adrian Peterson, Randy “The Freak” Moss, and “Benchwarmer” Bob Lurtsema.

BTW, a source said word inside the Vikings organization is that it’s “highly doubtful” the 37-year-old Smith decides to play another season.

Former Twins general manager Thad Levine talks weekly with prominent sports newsmakers on his podcast Rosters to Rings. It’s the kind of in-depth content you’d expect from the cerebral Levine.

The presumptive sale of the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion this summer is a startling contrast to the historical purchase prices of the NBA franchise, per A.I. The Detroit Gems were purchased for $15,000 and moved to Minneapolis in 1947. Bob Short bought the club for $150,000 in 1957, moved the team to L.A. in 1960 and sold it for about $5 million in 1965.

With the addition of 23-year-old power forward Jonathan Kuminga, the Timberwolves now have a starting lineup that averages a youthful 26.4 years. Point guard LaMelo Ball, shooting guard Anthony Edwards and small forward Jaden McDaniels are all 25, and center Rudy Gobert is 34. Remove Gobert, and the Wolves have a foursome averaging 24.5 years.

With that youth, the Wolves may be positioned for a long time to compete against two other dominant and youthful teams in the Spurs and Thunder. Those franchises are wagering favorites to win the 2027 NBA title with the Wolves a top 10 bet.

Possibility that the NHL will add an expansion team in Texas (Houston or Austin) could prompt speculation the new team will play in the Western Conference’s Central Division and allow the Wild to join a less competitive division. Minnesota might jump at the chance to escape the Avalanche and Stars.

A big storyline to follow when the Wild heads into training camp and preseason next month will be who establishes himself as the team’s No. 1 goalie. Filip Gustavsson, 28, has the edge in experience but the NHL Network recently gave Jesper Wallstedt, 23, the No. 9 spot on its list of top 10 league goalies.

The Avalanche’s Cale Makar’s new contract extension is expected to prompt a new deal for the Wild’s Quinn Hughes. It’s believed the Hughes camp has been waiting for the Makar signing to set the market for defensemen as they are two of the best in the world.

Makar’s new compensation is reportedly at $20. 4 million in annual average value. Hughes may become the Wild’s highest compensated player, exceeding the $17 million annual average value reported deal of teammate Kirill Kaprizov.

Fordy Leipold, son of Craig Leipold, is director of marketing of his dad’s new Minnesota Forge pro volleyball team based in St. Paul.

New gameday food items will be available at Huntington Bank Stadium for Golden Gophers football and include Papa Pete’s Mini Donuts (Section 121), Cold Stone Creamery (Sections 131, 121), Sushi Flip Pops (Section 143), Salads & Sides (Section 127) and Original Fried Chicken Tenders in the West Plaza. Mini Sloppy Joe’s will be featured at the Game Day Cart (Section 143).

New Spam-inspired offerings include Spam Corn Dogs at Curds & Cakes (Section 123), the Spam Stadium Dog at the Sizzle Stand (Section 135) and Spam Fries in Club Cambria. Dominos Pizza, BBQ Cabin, Maui Wowi, Minnesota’s Original Brat Dog, The Lotus Vietnamese and Parlour Burger locations return this season. Proceeds from Parlour Burger benefit Dinkytown Athletes.

Gophers starting center Ashton Beers attended a media gathering for food sampling at the stadium. Asked what’s the best food option in small town Slinger, Wisconsin, he replied: “Culver’s.”

Linemate Tony Nelson, the right guard who was raised on a family farm near Tracy, got married recently to Amber Findlay.

University of Minnesota athletics lost two extraordinary boosters with the deaths this summer of Kay McReavy and Lee Sundet, both of whom passed away in their 90s. Condolences to friends and family.

Probably safe to say there will be more than a little grumbling among Gopher football fans that want to watch the opener in their homes Thursday night against Eastern Illinois; they need the Peacock platform.

The Gophers are the only Big Ten football program returning their head coach, offensive and defensive coordinators, and starting quarterback.

Pickle ball sources say former Gopher basketball player Andre Hollins, 2011-2015, is outstanding at the game.

No details announced yet, but big names are expected for signings at the Minnesota Card Show September 17-20 at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Over 600 vendor tables will feature sports cards and other memorabilia.

Quarterback Anthony Policare, the first- year starter who threw the winning touchdown pass in the last minute of the St. Thomas 15-9 season opening win against Winona State last week, is a transfer from Buffalo University where he spent three years.

A certain online sports columnist celebrates 20 years this month!

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U WR Jennings Grabs Attention of Big Ten Network

Posted on August 18, 2026August 18, 2026 by David Shama

The Big Ten Network makes preseason stops at the football training camps of all 18 teams and was in Minneapolis on Monday to watch the Golden Gophers. BTN’s show about Minnesota aired last night and the most interesting part was the praise for wide receiver Noah Jennings, a senior transfer from the University of Cincinnati.

“He was impressive,” said BTN’s Gerry DiNardo about the player who reportedly really popped at practice Monday.

Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck acknowledged to BTN he’s been impressed with the 6-foot, 190-pound receiver who started his college career at Charleston Southern. “I hate to even say this because this is July-August, and this is hype, right? But he wears No. 13. His body frame, his structure looks a lot like (Rashod) Bateman. And a lot of times I don’t know if it’s Bateman or him out there. And he makes a ton of plays for us.”

Bateman, who wore No. 13 for the Gophers, was a program record-breaker who in 2021 became the first receiver in school history to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft (27^th pick by the Ravens). The 6-2, 210-pound Georgia native was the 2019 Big Ten’s Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year.

Jennings looks like a developing talent who will start for the Gophers and perhaps show the ability to get open and make the tough catch Bateman did. At Cincinnati he had only three starts and totaled 323 yards in receptions but hinted at the explosiveness he may bring to Minnesota by averaging 14 yards per catch. In two years at Charleston Southern the South Carolina native totaled 885 yards.

Gopher football coach P.J. Fleck — P.J. Fleck

Fleck brought up Batemans’s name when talking about placing better receivers around quarterback Drake Lindsey this season. That will be important for Lindsey who was a first-year starter in 2025 as a redshirt freshman and impressed observers.

Lindsey threw 18 touchdown passes and six interceptions. His completion percentage was .632 and Fleck sees improved accuracy in fall camp.

Another improvement is pocket awareness with Fleck noting his young quarterback left a “clean pocket” at times last season. “May be it felt dirty but it wasn’t,” Fleck told BTN. “There was something that spooked him. …It’s trusting the protection.”

Worth Noting

Baseball historian and media guru Dave Mona has watched a lot of baseball over the years including his time as the Twins beat writer for the Minneapolis Tribune. On Facebook he posted this review of his experience last week in Dyersville, Iowa to watch the Twins and Phillies game:

“James Earl Jones said it so well. The Twins game at Field of Dreams on Thursday was special. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to take part in and/or observe dozens, maybe hundreds, of sports presentations.

“I tend to be stingy with my grades. The crew at Field of Dreams gets an A-Plus. The teams coming out of the field of corn. The presence of 26 Hall of Famers. The chance to run the bases and play catch on the field featured in the movie.

“Seemed like hundreds of helpful staff. Even free parking. ‘People will come,’ Jones said in the movie, and son, Erik, and I are so glad we did.”

Word is the Savannah Bananas’ three sold out games at Target Field earlier this month were a welcome cash infusion to concession sales. Instead of the small crowds who come to see the Twins, about 40,000 patrons each game watched the entertaining antics of Banana Ball, a traveling exhibition that’s been compared to the Harlem Globetrotters.

One source said Twins announced attendance has often been thousands higher than actual patrons in the ballpark. MLB policy is to announce attendance of tickets sold, not clicks through the gates.

The Twins are averaging 21,084 per game, ranking No. 26 among 30 MLB teams, per Espn.com.

The Twins, 61-65, are just 14-26 in interleague games and close out their series against the National League Braves tomorrow afternoon at Target Field. It will be an interesting pitching matchup with Minnesota’s Taj Bradley 9-5 going for his club leading 10^th win versus Braves ace Chris Sale, 12-8.

Media and fan frenzy will ramp up (if that’s possible) on Wednesday and Thursday when the Vikings hold joint practices with the Ravens at TCO Performance Center. Both practices start at noon.

Then the two teams meet on Saturday in an exhibition game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Reserves figure to dominant the field on Saturday but the joint practices will have more regulars participating and that’s intriguing because after the Rams, the Ravens are among the betting favorites for the 2027 Super Bowl.

Blake Cashman, the Vikings linebacker from Eden Prairie and former Golden Gopher, is drawing praise during training camp. Cashman, 30, is an unrestricted free agent after the coming season.

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Vikings QB Roster: Can J.J. McCarthy Hold Off Carson Wentz?

Posted on August 16, 2026August 16, 2026 by David Shama

J.J. McCarthy lost the starting quarterback competition to Kyler Murray last week. Now it’s fair to ask whether Carson Wentz will be Murray’s replacement if he is injured during the regular season.

The Vikings first preseason depth chart has McCarthy listed No. 2, with Wentz third and Max Brosmer fourth. In yesterday’s opening preseason game, Murray and first team offensive teammates played for the first nine snaps. McCarthy took over after that and played the balance of the first quarter and all of the second.

McCarthy completed four of seven passes for 34, with no interceptions. He had moments when he looked hurried and produced no points of what would be a 13-10 preseason opening win over the Giants in New Jersey.

Wentz seemingly had the better day, looking more composed, perhaps running the huddle and game plan more effectively. Certainly, his passing was superior as he completed nine of 14 passes including a one-yard touchdown throw to Myles Price in the third quarter that put the Vikings ahead to stay at 13-10.

There was speculation even before today’s game that Wentz may turn out to be head coach Kevin O’Connell’s preferred choice if Murray is sidelined. McCarthy may again lack consistency in passing and judgment this fall as he works to improve on year three in the NFL including last season when he was anointed as the starter but disappointed.

O’Connell could understandably prefer the 33-year-old Wentz to the 23-year-old McCarthy. Wentz joined the team just days before the season started last year. He showed in limited play, including starts, an ability to quickly understand the offense and make decisions while demonstrating a strong arm, toughness and leadership.

In 10 starts last season McCarthy threw 11 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, with a passer rating of 72.6. In five starts Wentz had 6 TD throws, five interceptions and 85.8 rating.

Those stats are comparable but in a pinch this fall O’Connell might prefer a seemingly less risky decision by turning to Wentz. Especially in a year where it feels like the Vikings declared they need to make the playoffs and also made a offseason priority of tuning up the run game to take pressure off superstar wide receiver Justing Jefferson. A solid run game, coupled with a steady game manager like Wentz who can feed the vertical passing game and potentially create explosive plays, appears to be the bet if Murray goes down.

Worth Noting

Jefferson, who appears to be on a path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, didn’t play yesterday. In his entire NFL career dating back to 2020 he’s never been used in an exhibition game and that won’t be risked in the remaining two games.

The only player, BTW, on the roster longer than Jefferson is offensive tackle Brian O’Neill who was drafted in 2018.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Drake Lindsey had some impressive long passes in the most recent Golden Gophers football practice the media was allowed to watch. Asked who might be No. 2 on the depth chart, head coach P.J. Fleck said on Thursday that Max Shikenjanski, redshirt junior from Stillwater, has excelled since August practices started.

“You know, he had a poor throw today, but it’s very rare for that to happen with indecision. .. But I thought he’s had a tremendous camp.”

Shikenjanski, who insiders believe is No. 2 on the internal depth chart, has only played briefly in two games in his Gopher career. He completed four of five passes for 80 yards and has an eight-yard touchdown run.

The Gophers will host a free admission practice starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday night at Huntington Bank Stadium. The team’s 10 captains will sign autographs for 30 minutes after practice: Maverick Baranowski, Ashton Beers, Kerry Brown, Aidan Gousby, Greg Johnsn, Drake Lindsey, John Nestor, Anthony Smith, Jalen Smith and Darius Taylor.

The Twins, 60-64, have lost 10 of their last 16 games and look like they’re fading in the race to earn a wild card spot in the playoffs.

Baseball birthdays: Twins outfielder-infielder Luke Keaschall turned 24 yesterday, Twins World Series manager Tom Kelly 76.

Golden Gophers men’s basketball coach Niko Medved speaks to the Twin Cities Dunkers on September 9 at Interlachen Country Club. BTW the late John Anderson, the beloved former Gophers baseball coach, spoke 20 times as the featured speaker at Dunkers. The most ever for the organization that began as the Minneapolis Dunkers in 1948.

Becker high school football coaching legend Dwight Lundeen enters his 57^th and final season this year leading that program. Son Matt, head football coach at Redwood Vallely in Redwood Falls, has written a tribute to his dad in the new book Success is Temporary. Impact is Forever. 57 Years of Impact.

“This book isn’t simply about football,” Matt Lundeen said in a news release. “It’s about the kind of legacy every parent, coach, teacher, business leader, and mentor hopes to leave. My dad has spent nearly six decades proving that success is temporary, but the impact we make on others can last for generations.”

The book retails at $17.99 and is available on Amazon.

Good quote for golf hackers like me: “The toughest course is the one between our ears.”

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