Sports
Pat Cummins: ‘Abhishek, Klaasen, Trav, Ishan shouldn’t be told that they can only bat a certain way. You want to see them at their full flight’ | Cricket News
New Delhi: Every now and then, the cricketing world needs a reminder that Pat Cummins remains exceptional at his primary craft: fast bowling. Yet, in the process, Cummins the captain has been somewhat overshadowed. Amid the celebration of his extraordinary skills with the ball, his tactical brilliance as a captain has been flagrantly overlooked.But one cannot deny that Cummins the captain and Cummins the bowler are inseparably intertwined.Nowadays in the IPL, even a score of 264 is not safe, and it is Cummins’ ultra-aggressive captaincy that has shifted the paradigm of this tournament. In his first season as captain in IPL 2024, he set the tone. And who can forget his dressing room talk to his teammates, where he famously said: “Everyone’s terrified when they come up against us and we’ve got to blow some teams out of the water before they’ve even walked out onto the field.“SRH had a difficult 2025 campaign. This season, things have looked different, and they are once again in the playoffs. Although Cummins joined the campaign midway after recovering from a stress injury, SRH continued to play a “take-no-prisoners” style of cricket under stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan, a brand that had been instilled into their DNA by Cummins.In an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com on the sidelines of the New Balance Grey Days 2026 celebration and the launch of The New Retail Concept store in Noida, Pat Cummins opens up about his captaincy style, SRH, the six-hitting madness in T20 cricket, workload management, being an all-format cricketer, and why he went “wow” after watching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat. Edited Excerpts: It’s turning out to be another strong season for you at the SRH. How has the ride been so far?It’s been great. It’s a bit of a different season for me, joining halfway, but I felt really high energy and really excited to be part of it. The team has been playing fantastically well, strong contributions across the whole squad, which has been really pleasing.
Ahmedabad, May 12 (ANI): Sunrisers Hyderabad’s skipper Pat Cummins celebrates the wicket of Gujarat Titans’ Nishant Sindhu during their Indian Premier League 2026 match at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Joining the team midway and then sustaining the momentum, it seemed like a seamless takeover from Ishan Kishan. Tell us a little about thatIshan is a fantastic captain, fantastic around the boys, so I kind of stayed out of the way for the first seven games. Obviously, Daniel Vettori, the head coach and the whole coaching staff, they’re great as well, so it’s all very seamless, whether it’s Ishan or myself captaining, not much changes about how we go about it.The last few seasons you and SRH in particular have been the pioneers in changing the way T20 cricket has been played. How difficult was it to imbibe that mindset in the group?I think it’s a natural fit for T20 cricket. There’s 10 teams in this competition, if you just want to be average, you’re not going to make it, so you’ve got to do something that stands you out, makes you stand out from the pack. Look around at some of the talent, Abhishek (Sharma), Klaassen( Heinrich), Trav (Travis Head), Ishan (Kishan), these guys shouldn’t be told that they can only bat a certain way. You want to see them at their full flight.A lot of my style is getting out of the way and let those guys go and play their natural game.
I think it is the new reality. You do not have that many tools at your disposal. Cutters do not normally grip, there is not much swing, there is not much bounce.
Pat Cummins on bowlers plight in T20s
We see the kind of pitches, the runs that have been scored, every time it has been told that bowlers need to be upskilled. Do you really see how much a bowler can do, because balance has tilted one way?I think that’s the new reality. You don’t have that many tools at your disposal. Cutters don’t normally grip, there’s not much swing, there’s not much bounce.I don’t think it’s anything different to what it was a few years back. Batters have been a bit more aggressive and maybe starting to realise that they can score a bit quicker than what they previously thought. I think that’s been the biggest challenge.As a bowler, you’ve just got to adapt to the new normal, find ways to defend yourself. Even if it’s the second over in a game, that might be a super important over you’ve got to try and defend.
SunriserscCaptain Pat Cummins
How does Pat Cummins prepare when he knows he will be bowling to a 15-year-old teenager like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who takes on the bowlers from the word go?I think he keeps everyone on their toes.You think the batter’s going to play a certain way and you see someone like him come out and try and hit every ball for six. You’re like, okay, this is fun. How am I going to counter this challenge? It’s mostly the way I look at it. If something gets thrown at me, I’m like, okay, this is interesting. How do I try and solve this problem.
I think the trend is you see players being rested from a few more games than previous generations because you are trying to avoid the big 12-month injuries.
Pat Cummins on challneges of bring ann all-format bowler
It’s been a growing trend now that very few would end up playing/mastering every format. Not just batters but even bowlers. Very few are left – yourself, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc and Kagiso Rabada. You reckon every team/country will now look at formats in isolation and not maybe have repetition of players across formats?I’d say not necessarily. I think the trend is you see players being rested from a few more games than previous generations because you’re trying to avoid the big 12-month injuries.Before this injury, I played a lot of cricket over the last five years, bowled a lot of balls, but I was also rested from a few games here and there. There’s just so much cricket. For example, next year, it’s an ODI World Cup year.I’m sure I’ll probably play more ODIs that year than I have in the previous few years. Just like a T20 year, I’ll probably play more T20s.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 22: Pat Cummins takes part in a training session at Cricket Central on October 22, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
How challenging is it to transition between formats, especially going from something as physically demanding as a five-Test series straight into the intensity of the IPL?Particularly in Test cricket, we try and carve out a little bit of time before or post to make sure that you are ready for the Test matches but also get a little bit of recovery after them. They’re the ones that I find probably the easiest to adapt to. And then T20s, I feel like I’ve played enough over the last couple of years, so you’ve just got to mentally switch on and know what your style is.How do you manage the toll it can take on the body and mind over such long stretches of cricket?I’m a little bit used to it, but when we do have a little bit of a break, we’re not on holidays. We’re at home, going to the gym every couple of days, trying to get strength in so that when we do play a Test match, our body’s ready for the rigours of it.
I was like wow after seeing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi going nuts against me.
Pat Cummins
When was the last time Pat Cummins went wow while watching a cricket or IPL match. Like taken aback by what you witnessed in a fixture.Went wow? Probably seeing Sooryavanshi (Vaibhav) going nuts against me.You are one of the most successful leaders for Australia. Bowlers do make great captains right? Would you want to see more of that?The fast bowler’s always the smart ones, so it makes sense. I just think whether you’re a bowler, a keeper, whoever you are, I think your role on the team shouldn’t really matter whether you can be a captain or not.For example, when I’m talking about my own bowling and my own plans, a lot of times I gravitate to the other bowlers because they’ve got really good insight on how they’re seeing the game, so I think it’s a pretty natural fit for bowlers to be captains.
What aspect of Pat Cummins’ game do you find most impressive?
You have got a young family as someone constantly travelling and performing under pressure, how important is routine and balance in your everyday life?That’s the hardest thing about this lifestyle. I’ve spent a fair bit of time at home the last 12 months with my injuries, but they’ve come over to India, so our little four-year-old’s been to about 20 countries. You get very good at packing different bags and packing toys, but it’s fun. It’s hard work at times, but you always get home and you create some great memories.
The strategic advantage of the Hawkes family’s dual-state racing operation was clearly demonstrated at Flemington’s Finals Day meeting this past Saturday, where the father-and-sons training team clinched the $175,000 Taj Rossi Series Final with their impressive galloper, Marwooba.
The son of Wootton Bassett, conditioned by John, Wayne, and Michael Hawkes, achieved a Listed victory over 1600 metres, building on a previous win at Rosehill on June 13.
This marked a successful return to Victoria for the gelding, who had been sent to Sydney after a disappointing last-place finish, 30 lengths off the winner, at Geelong in his seasonal debut. Wayne Hawkes commented on the benefit derived from the more favourable weather conditions in New South Wales during this time of year.
“He only got here yesterday and his coat looked amazing,” Hawkes, who supervises their Flemington stable, remarked. “The Sydney horses just look so much better than the Melbourne horses, just because of the weather. There’s nothing anyone could do about that, but he just got off the float and he had a pig-root and was pretty happy with himself.”
Marwooba capitalised on an economical run under the expert handling of Melbourne’s leading rider, Craig Williams, to finish ahead of the $2.70 favourite, Star Of Macedon.
Williams positioned Marwooba off the pace, found an opening down the centre of the straight midway, and unleashed a potent acceleration to forge a race-winning lead. The $3.20 second elect secured victory by half a length, with Ko Phangan ($7) finishing a further three-quarters of a length behind Star Of Macedon in third place.
The win secured Williams his second juvenile race victory of the day, having earlier guided the $2 favourite Stars Of Dom to win the $150,000 Next Generation Sprinters Series Final (1200m).
Hawkes indicated that the stable’s attention would now turn to the spring racing season with Marwooba. The Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on September 27 is a potential target, with a view towards the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney.
“We’re very happy to be here in the depths of winter winning a race in July, (he’ll go) back to Sydney and have three weeks off probably, then come back into work and he might end up in a Spring Champion (Stakes). There are plenty of options for him.”
With Marwooba’s spring targets in sight, punters can find competitive racing odds at various betting sites.
With 12 minutes of normal time remaining Egypt stood on the cusp of their greatest ever World Cup result.
The Pharaohs led Argentina, the reigning world champions, 2-0 in Atlanta Stadium.
A quarter-final spot – their first – beckoned for the football-mad African country.
Then it went wrong. Horribly wrong.
When Cristian Romero reduced the deficit in the 79th minute, it was a case of Egypt digging in. But they looked panic-stricken when captain Lionel Messi – who else? – made it 2-2 four minutes later.
Enzo Fernandez then completed a remarkable turnaround with a header in the second minute of stoppage-time.
Egypt were down and out – and downright furious after the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled out a second goal by Mostafa Zico for a foul after midfielder Marwan Attia was penalised for slightly stepping on Lisandro Martinez at the start of the move, when they were leading 1-0.
They were also adamant Mohamed Salah was fouled in Argentina’s penalty area, seconds before the reigning champions broke for the winner.
“There is so much inconsistency at the moment with VAR and decisions and how far you go back to pull a decision,” Egyptian football expert Ahmad Yousef told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“There was such a long distance that had gone by and the foul was so minimal so I completely understand why the Egyptian coaching staff and squad are so disappointed.”
When French referee Francois Letexier signalled full-time, many of Egypt’s players slumped to the floor in disbelief at what had just happened.
Salah swapped shirts with his former Liverpool team-mate Alexis MacAllister before walking off the pitch with his head bowed, while other players stood shaking their heads.
“There were so many subplots and stories to this game,” said former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who was in the ground working for BBC Radio 5 Live.
This match had everything – a penalty save, a disallowed goal, a red card as well as a thrilling comeback.
BBC Sport unpicks a game that will go down in World Cup history for featuring a team who were two goals down so late on, but who went on to win without needing extra time.
Jun 17, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) hits a single during the sixth inning of the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images The Athletics activated shortstop Jacob Wilson from the injured list Tuesday while left-hander Jacob Lopez also was added to the active roster.
In corresponding moves, the club optioned catcher Brian Serven and right-hander Kade Morris to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Wilson, 24, has not played since June 26 because of right thumb inflammation. One season after Wilson was named an American League All-Star and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting, he is batting .277 with four homers and 26 RBIs in 50 games. Wilson also has missed time with a shoulder injury this season.
Lopez, 28, is 4-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 12 appearances (10 starts) for the A’s this season. In parts of four major league seasons, he is 12-10 with a 4.99 ERA in 41 appearances (29 starts) for the Tampa Bay Rays (2023-24) and A’s. Serven, 31, has played one game for the A’s this season, his first major league action in two years. In parts of four seasons, he is a career .188 hitter with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 102 games for the Colorado Rockies (2022-23), Toronto Blue Jays (2024) and A’s.
Morris, 24, made his major league debut June 6 and went 0-1 with an 11.70 ERA over his first three appearances (one start).
–Field Level Media
Sports
FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi scripts history, surpasses Diego Maradona to become all-time assists leader as Argentina edge Egypt in R16 | Football News
He already had the goals record. He already had the appearances record. On Tuesday night in Atlanta, Lionel Messi took the assists record too.After Argentina’s remarkable comeback win against Egypt in the Round of 16, Messi recorded his ninth career World Cup assist, giving him the most assists in World Cup history, surpassing Argentine legend Diego Maradona, who previously held the record with eight.The record-breaking assist arrived in the most dramatic of circumstances. Argentina were trailing Egypt 2-0 when Messi found Cristian Romero in the box, and the centre-back headed home to pull one back and begin one of the great World Cup comebacks. Messi then scored himself in the 83rd minute with a stunning volley from inside the box, before Enzo Fernández completed the turnaround in stoppage time. Argentina won 3-2, and Messi had touched the game in every way imaginable – record assist, crucial goal, match-winning influence.Messi’s ninth assist gives him the most in World Cup history, with the record previously shared between himself and Maradona at eight apiece.Croatia’s Ivan Perisic was trailing with six assists, but Croatia were eliminated by Portugal in the Round of 16, meaning the record now looks entirely safe.The numbers keep coming and they keep defying belief. Messi now has 12 career goal contributions in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage, six goals and six assists, passing both Pelé and Kylian Mbappé for the most in the last 60 years on record. He has also become the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score in eight consecutive appearances.Messi had reached 30 World Cup appearances across six tournaments, the most in history by any player, male or female, at a single World Cup.At 39 years of age. At his sixth and final World Cup. In a tournament with a larger field and longer travel map than any edition before it.Maradona set the assists record. Klose set the goals record. Marta held the overall scoring record. One by one, Messi has taken them all. The record books at this World Cup belong entirely to one man and on Tuesday night in Atlanta, he reminded the world exactly why.
Who predicted British wildcard Arthur Fery would be a Wimbledon quarter-finalist this year? Not even the man himself.
Fery, ranked 114th in the world, illustrated that when he explicitly mouthed his surprise after beating Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16.
Now the 23-year-old will aim to reach the semi-finals when he plays Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday.
Cobolli, 24, was the runner-up at last month’s French Open and, after becoming a Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, has showed again he can excel on grass.
“Arthur still starts as the underdog given the difference in ranking and top-level experience,” said BBC Sport analyst Jamie Murray.
“But he has proven to be a great grass-court player and poses a lot of different questions to opponents.”
Before the Centre Court contest, BBC Sport examines how Fery could beat Cobolli and become only the fifth British man to reach the Wimbledon last four since 1968.
Remember Patrick Peterson? The cornerback who stopped by the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons? He’s a former teammate of Kyler Murray, and for the most part, Peterson believes Murray will work out in Minnesota.
The Vikings signed Murray in March after the Arizona Cardinals kicked him out. Peterson thinks that’ll work out for Murray and the Vikings.
Peterson Sees a Clean Setup for Murray
Peterson on Murray
Peterson recently chatted with D.J. Siddiqi and opened up about Murray: “I am happy for Kyler Murray for the situation that he’s in right now, how he’s going to be able to play with a top-five defense, how he’s going to be able to play with a consistent No. 1 receiver, how he’s going to have a balanced offense.”
“Everything is not really going to be upon his shoulders. I think he’s in a great, phenomenal situation now. I believe Murray will win the starting job just because he’s a proven quarterback. He’s a guy who’s a Pro Bowler in this league, a former first pick in this league, and we know those guys can hold on to that car for a long, long time.”
Peterson and Murray crossed paths in the desert for two seasons.
“J.J. McCarthy is a first-round pick as well, but the number one pick carries a little bit more weight, and I just feel like Kyler Murray is more proven,” Peterson added.
Best Situation to Date in His Career
Murray may also benefit from his best team setup to date. He’s never quite had a defense like Brian Flores’s; in addition, his new playmakers, including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason, should make his job easy.
Peterson commented on that, too: “This is the best situation that he’s going to be in thus far throughout his career. In Arizona, we had solid teams, but we didn’t have teams that can win right now, and Minnesota has a team that can win right now. What they were missing last year was a quarterback. J.J. wasn’t healthy; they had to go through two other quarterbacks. Carson Wentz ended up getting hurt, and the other quarterback threw four interceptions in one game.”
“The defense was pretty much keeping them afloat. Now they just feel like they need a quarterback that’s going to be able to manage them, manage the game, put them in the best position possible, and Kyler Murray, in my opinion, picked the right team for that. Now it’s going to be upon him to be the best player that he can be to revitalize his career.”
If there’s a place for Murray to rekindle his career, it’s Minnesota. The situation is fantastic.
Just Follow the Blueprint of Sam Darnold?
Meanwhile, if Murray wants to find success, all he has to do is turn on some tape of the 2024 Vikings, led by Darnold.
Minnesota finished 14-3 that season, with Darnold under center almost 100% of the time. Darnold fed his playmakers, let the defense do its thing, and closed out games in the 4th Quarter. Life was good — until Darnold vaporized in the season’s two most vital games: at Detroit in Week 18 and in the playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams.
Murray blasting off in Minnesota won’t be unprecedented, but if he does, the Vikings will have the opportunity to keep him, unlike letting Darnold walk in 2025.
Must Win the Battle First
Projecting Murray’s stats and success might be premature. Peterson appears to have already crowned him, but Murray must win the summer competition against McCarthy, who won’t go quietly into the night. Last offseason, the Vikings handed McCarthy the job without serious compeition, and a playoff-less season ensued. This time, they signed Murray, and he’s in town to battle McCarthy at training camp and in the preseason.
The odds suggest Murray will win handily — he’s a -770 monelyine favorite — but Minnesota has a vested interest in McCarthy succeeding, drafting him in 2024 as their sole solution at quarterback for the future. When training camp kicks off in three weeks, Murray must earn the QB1 job, and that process will likely take longer than a day or two.
Then, Murray must remain upright and healthy. Sadly, he’s missed about a quarter of all games in his career due to injury. He’s played a full season twice. If Murray gets hurt, McCarthy will be salivating to fill in and never relinquish the job.
Yet, if Murray plays all 17 games, Peterson believes he’ll stick in Minnesota.
Arsenal make Morgan Rogers their main target, Liverpool interested in Mexico teenager and Everton eye England defender Spence.
Arsenal have made 23-year-old midfielder Morgan Rogers their top target and want to sign the England international from Aston Villa (The Athletic, external).
Liverpool have enquired about the possibility of signing 17-year-old Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora from Club Tijuana (El Universal, external).
Everton want to sign 25-year-old England defender Djed Spence from Tottenham (The Athletic, external).
Tottenham are lining up an £85 million bid to sign 19-year-old France forward Junior Kroupi from Bournemouth (TalkSport, external).
Inter Miami want to sign 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha after he was released by Portuguese second-division side Chaves. (Marca, external).
Chelsea are preparing to offer 18-year-old English midfielder Jesse Derry a new contract to fend off interest from Bayern Munich (Football Insider), external.
Newly-promoted Ipswich Town want to seal a club-record signing of 21-year-old Brazil forward Emersonn from Toulouse. (Give Me Sport), external.
Paris St-Germain have started talks to sign 24-year-old France midfielder Maghnes Akliouche from AS Monaco (RMC Sport, external).
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The USA-Belgium game made history.
The USA’s 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday night in Seattle set a viewership record, drawing 30 million viewers and becoming the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history.
The peak audience was 36.895 million, from 9:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET.
WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE
Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku (9) kicks the ball past the United States’ Chris Richards (3) to score his team’s fourth goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Washington. Monday, July 6, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)
The USMNT unfortunately did not deliver for the massive audience, as their run came to a close in disheartening fashion. Despite Folarin Balogun’s suspension being overturned, the USMNT could not muster enough offense.
Belgium took advantage of the USMNT defensive mistakes, as Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring just nine minutes into the match after a defensive breakdown gave Belgium an early lead.
Malik Tillman, who scored on a free kick against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, worked his magic again on another free kick to tie the score at 1-1 in the 31st minute. Tillman’s shot deflected off a defender and found its way into the back of the net, sending the vociferous Seattle crowd into a frenzy.
The raucous cheers were short-lived, however, as De Ketelaere scored his second goal shortly after in the 33rd minute to put Belgium back on top, 2-1.
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Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere (17) celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Washington. Monday, July 6, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)
The USMNT came out after halftime applying pressure to Belgium, but goalie Matt Freese made a critical mistake that dashed any hopes of a comeback. In the 57th minute, Freese came out of his net to challenge De Ketelaere on a through ball.
While Freese arrived first, he could not clear the ball as his foot got caught in the turf. Hans Vanaken seized the opportunity and booted the ball past Freese and a sprawling Tim Ream to give Belgium a 3-1 lead.
The USMNT had a couple of opportunities to add another tally and cut the deficit to one, but could not get on the board as they were stifled by Belgium’s defense.
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The United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) walks off the pitch after losing to Belgium during their World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Seattle, Washington. Monday, July 6, 2026. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)
Belgium substituted in superstar striker, Romelu Lukaku, and he put the exclamation point on the victory with a goal in stoppage time.
Despite the loss, the USMNT’s captured America’s heart and attention over the past few weeks, with the country’s support reflected in the historic ratings.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy hasn’t even fully begun his competition with Kyler Murray, and the world has already lined up new employers for him, including trade ideas to the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets, among others. Now, one podcast host believes McCarthy would fit well in Denver.
The Broncos clearly have a QB1 in Bo Nix, but David Marshall’s theory suggests McCarthy could play QB2 in Denver rather than in Minnesota.
Minnesota Has No Reason to Rush a McCarthy Trade to DEN or Anywhere
Marshall: McCarthy to DEN Makes Sense
Marshall advanced the idea on the David Talks Broncos show last week: “McCarthy was kind of a disaster last year after his time at Michigan. You could see here at Michigan, National Champion, he’s got all the traits and tools you’re looking for, and you saw here during his time in the NFL.”
“He tore his ACL in 2024, so he didn’t get a lot of time to actually improve his game. He played in a pro-style offense under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and I think he’s got the brains to operate this offense with Sean Payton and Davis Webb.”
Denver’s QB2 at the moment is Jarrett Stidham, who started in the AFC Championship in January.
Marshall added, “He needs to fine-tune his mechanics, his footwork, and that’s where the Broncos do some of their best work. I think J.J. McCarthy in terms of not looking at him as a franchise quarterback because we’ve got that in Bo Nix, but as that franchise backup. That next guy that can be here for a few years.”
Why … Would McCarthy Leave QB2 Job in MIN for QB2 Job in DEN?
The idea from Marshall is predicated on McCarthy leaving the friendly confines of Minnesota — presumably as Murray’s backup — for Denver to presumably become Nix’s backup.
Immediately, the question becomes: Why on earth would he want that? McCarthy departing the Vikings in 2026 would probably have to come from his trade request, and it would be strange for him to sign off on a deal that shipped him to the Broncos. If McCarthy wants a real shot at QB1 action, he should either remain in Minnesota to see if Murray shows progress or force his way to a team like the Cardinals or Jets that realistically need a QB1 for the future.
Preferring Denver to Minnesota — swapping QB2 assignments for QB2 assignments — just doesn’t make sense for the 23-year-old.
Too Early for a Trade
Kevin O’Connell said in 2024 that organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations. Well, here we are.
If the Vikings were to trade McCarthy now, especially after selecting him as their franchise quarterback just two years ago, it would directly contradict their head coach’s previous warnings. The move would be particularly puzzling given the widespread enthusiasm for McCarthy as the team’s future in April 2024.
Discarding him before he has had a fair chance to develop seems premature. McCarthy’s professional career has faced significant hurdles. His early entry into the league, a rookie-year injury that led to benching, and a rocky 2025 performance all contributed to his inconsistent start.
Even if the Vikings believe Murray offers a better immediate solution for the 2026 season, it doesn’t necessitate McCarthy’s immediate departure.
Quarterback development is a lengthy process, and teams that rush it often regret their decisions. The Jets with Sam Darnold and the Cleveland Browns with Baker Mayfield serve as cautionary tales; both teams moved on too quickly, only to see those players succeed elsewhere. Minnesota risks falling into a similar trap.
The Vikings aren’t obligated to declare McCarthy a superstar today; their priority should be avoiding a shortsighted decision.
Trading him now would essentially invite another franchise to “fix McCarthy.” Should another coach successfully develop him into a star, the Vikings would spend the next decade justifying how a 23-year-old former 1st-Round pick was let go without a development plan. You might recall the Vikings casting Darnold off last offseason and him winning a Super Bowl 11 months later.
Trade Price?
Pretend for a moment that McCarthy indeed requests a trade later this summer, possibly after losing the competition to Murray. Now might be the best time to sell, as the Vikings could realistically grab a mid-round pick. At worst, McCarthy would fetch a 5th-Rounder.
On the whole, the likelihood of McCarthy leaving the Vikings is low. The team needs all the quarterback depth it can find after injuries to its quarterbacks killed the 2023 and 2025 campaigns.
But there’s always a chance that McCarthy personally asks for a change of scenery, and per Marshall, the Broncos shouldn’t be ruled out.
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