The Minnesota Vikings have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.
They also have an inconsistent young quarterback in J.J. McCarthy who may be holding it back.
But at this point, the Vikings don't really have any alternatives. Veteran backup Carson Wentz got injured, and the current backup is undrafted rookie Max Brosmer.
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The reality is, as one ESPN writer puts it, that the Vikings both want to win a Super Bowl and develop McCarthy, and those goals may be "cannibalizing each other."
"The accuracy is a concern," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes. "There's no hiding from that. Balls are sailing, and that affects the entire offense. McCarthy needs to hit the layups. The Vikings will be working to help him find more consistency as a thrower... ESPN's Kevin Seifert put it best Monday: The Vikings' two goals -- competing for championships and developing a young quarterback -- are cannibalizing each other."
McCarthy's season has been fascinating.
In the early going, he had a brilliant fourth quarter for a comeback win over the Bears, but then he got hurt.
Since he got back, he's been mostly poor, but he also found a way to make enough big plays to upset the Detroit Lions.
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There clearly is some intrigue there, but it's also clear his inconsistencies could sink this roster if the negatives show up at the wrong time.
The Vikings, in some ways, are helped by not having much choice. McCarthy appears to be their best and only real option, and so they're following his lead and hoping he can get them where they want to go.
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