Vikings sign Kyler Murray in their latest QB pivot, bringing in competition for J.J. McCarthy

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings found in Kyler Murray an ideal addition to their quarterback depth chart, setting up stiff competition for incumbent J.J. McCarthy for the starting job this season — and perhaps beyond.

Murray visited Vikings headquarters and signed a one-year contract on Thursday, after the first overall pick from the 2019 NFL draft was released by the Arizona Cardinals. Because he's already owed $36.8 million in guaranteed salary by the Cardinals for this season, Murray was able to sign for the veteran minimum of $1.3 million and give the Vikings a no-risk opportunity.

“Contractually, it doesn’t really make a difference to me. Every year to me is a go-out-there-and-prove-it year,” Murray said on a video call with reporters.

Murray, despite being sidetracked recently by injuries and dogged by questions about his work ethic, has two Pro Bowl selections, a 67% career completion percentage, a 2-to-1 ratio of touchdown passes to interceptions — and a bonus of 3,193 rushing yards with 32 scores.

McCarthy, the Vikings' 2024 first-round draft pick whose injuries and inconsistency have raised the question of how long they can afford to wait for him to develop, missed his rookie season while recovering from knee surgery. Last year, he had an ankle sprain, a concussion and a broken hand that limited him to 10 starts and only eight games finished. Even when he was healthy, his struggles with accuracy were pronounced enough to force the Vikings to consider alternatives despite his significant potential.

“I talked to him this week. We had a great conversation about the things he’s been working on,” coach Kevin O'Connell said. “He’s focused on what’s out in front of him personally, and he’s attacking that every single day. He’s doing great.”

Murray, as if he were sliding away from a pass rusher in the pocket, smoothly sidestepped a question about whether he believes he was targeted to compete with McCarthy or was promised the job. O'Connell pointed to the calendar and declined to dive into what will be the primary storyline throughout the offseason until a starter is declared.

“I don’t believe we have to name one of those currently,” O'Connell said.

Murray, who turns 29 on Aug. 7, will have the opportunity to rejuvenate his career and set up a big payday next year, much like Sam Darnold did in 2024 with O'Connell and the Vikings after McCarthy was sidelined. Though Murray has not played in a system like the one O'Connell runs, his ability is such that finding a way to be productive with him ought not to be difficult for the 2024 AP NFL Coach of the Year.

“I don’t want to put any limitations on what that looks like. He’s had a tremendous amount of success with different quarterbacks. I know what my skill set brings to the game. I know what I’m capable of,” said Murray, who won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma and the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

The Cardinals signed Murray to a hefty contract extension in 2022, but a few weeks after the deal was done the club removed a strange clause in the contract that mandated four hours of “independent study” during game weeks. The kerfuffle called into question Murray’s work habits, and his relationship with the franchise was never the same.

Murray tore the ACL in his right knee late in the 2022 season, causing him to miss more than half of the 2023 schedule. Then he played only five games in 2025 because of an injury to his right foot.

Murray led Arizona to the playoffs just once in seven years, a wild-card round loss after the 2021 season to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. O'Connell, the offensive coordinator for that Rams team, inherited with the Vikings in 2022 a productive veteran who fit well with his scheme in Kirk Cousins.

Cousins was playing as well as he had in his career in 2023 until tearing his Achilles tendon halfway through the season, starting a carousel of starting quarterbacks that hasn't stopped spinning for this club. Minnesota has found plenty of short-term success but failed to find a franchise cornerstone. With Darnold, McCarthy and now Murray, O'Connell will have coached three top-10 draft picks at his specialty position. Murray could become the ninth starting quarterback in five years.

The match appears to be ideal — and maybe even destined. Murray posted on social media a picture of him in a youth football uniform for a team called the Vikings, an experience at age 7 that formed in him a fondness for the NFL version. Murray revealed that he “cried real tears” after the interception Brett Favre threw late in the NFC championship game after the 2009 season that helped keep that team from reaching the Super Bowl.

“Never in a million years did I think that this was going to come around full circle,” Murray said. “I think that it's a great fit. I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

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FILE - Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game Oct. 19, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

FILE - Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Oct. 5, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba held recent talks with the U.S. government, President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Friday, marking the first time that the Caribbean country confirmed such speculation.

Díaz-Canel said in a speech that the talks “were aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between our two nations. International factors facilitated these exchanges.”

He didn't elaborate on those factors, or provide any details about the talks.

The White House didn't return an immediate request for comment on the talks with Cuba.

Díaz-Canel said that no petroleum shipments have arrived on the island in the past three months, which he blamed on a U.S. energy blockade. He said that Cuba is running on natural gas, solar power and thermoelectric plants, and that the depletion of fuel oil and diesel forced two power plants to shut down and has limited the generation of power at solar parks.

Cuba’s western region was hit by a major blackout last week, leaving millions without power.

He said that Cuba, which produces 40% of its petroleum, has been generating its own power, but that it hasn’t been sufficient to meet demand.

The Cuban leader said that the lack of power has affected communications, education and transportation, and that the government has had to postpone surgeries for tens of thousands of people as a result.

“The impact is tremendous,” Díaz-Canel said.

He said that more than 115 bakeries across the island have been converted to run on firewood or coal.

Díaz-Canel said that 955 solar panels have been installed in rural homes and social centers, and that more solar systems will come online before the end of March that will add 100 megawatts to Cuba’s crumbling electric grid.

“Even with everything we’re putting together, we still need oil,” he said.

Díaz-Canel noted that production output also has dropped.

“Without energy, no country can produce at normal levels," he said. "All of this has meant making adjustments to employment.”

Last month, Cuba implemented austere fuel-saving measures.

Díaz-Canel said that the purpose of the talks was to identify “bilateral problems that require solutions based on their severity and impact” and find solutions to them.

The president said that the aim was “to determine the willingness of both parties to take concrete actions for the benefit of the people of both countries. And in addition, to identify areas of cooperation to confront threats and guarantee the security and peace of both nations, as well as in the region.”

He said that Cuba is willing to carry out the process on the basis of equality and respect for the countries’ political systems and for Cuba’s “sovereignty and self-determination.”

Critical oil shipments from Venezuela were halted after the U.S. attacked the South American country and arrested then President Nicolás Maduro.

The most recent blackout was blamed on a broken boiler at a thermoelectric plant that forced the shutdown of Cuba's power grid.

Authorities have noted that some thermoelectric plants have been operating for more than three decades and receive little maintenance given the high cost. U.S. sanctions also have prevented the government from buying new equipment and specialized parts, officials say.

After his speech, Díaz-Canel took questions from a select group of state reporters.

The questions focused mostly on Cuba’s deepening crises, but one reporter asked about the recent shooting of a Florida-flagged boat in Cuban waters in which four of 10 Cubans from the U.S. were killed after the government accused them of opening fire on local troops.

A fifth suspect later died from his injuries, according to the Cuban government.

Díaz-Canel said that FBI officials would visit Cuba soon as both countries continue to share information on the incident.

The five other suspects have been detained and face terrorism charges.

Díaz-Canel spoke just a day after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it would release 51 prisoners in a move that stems from a spirit of goodwill and close relations with the Vatican.

“It is a sovereign practice, no one imposes it on us,” Díaz-Canel said of the upcoming release. “It responds to our humanistic vocation."

Dánica Coto reported form San José, Costa Rica.

FILE - Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel attends the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)