The Minnesota Vikings will have to wait a bit longer to get J.J. McCarthy back on the field.
McCarthy, the No. 10 pick from the 2024 NFL Draft, suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. He started off this season completing 58.5% of his passes for 301 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Carson Wentz has filled in admirably for the Michigan product, throwing for 759 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. The Vikings are 2-1 with him as the starting quarterback.
Earlier this week, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell provided an update on McCarthy.
“I think the big thing is just getting him back on the grass in uniform, practicing, getting real live reps of a pass rush and taking drops and applying some of the things that he’s worked really hard on as of late as he’s kind of gotten to that phase of his rehab,” O’Connell said, via ESPN. “Then when he does that, instant dialogue about what he’s able to do and what it felt like and, ‘Hey, let’s log that away.’ And then if he doesn’t do the same thing, it’s going to be [the same]. I’m having a blast coaching him. It started last week when he was able to really start ramping up a little bit as he gets there and that one-on-one work and then obviously the work he does with [assistant coaches] is going to be critical.”
On Friday afternoon, O’Connell confirmed that Wentz will remain the starter for this weekend’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Interestingly enough, Max Brosmer will serve as Wentz’s backup for Week 8. McCarthy, meanwhile, will be the emergency quarterback.
How serious is McCarthy’s injury?
Even though Minnesota has preached patience with McCarthy’s recovery process, NFL fans are convinced the second-year quarterback isn’t that hurt.
“JJ injury so fake,” one fan said.
“McCarthy has missed too many reps, will be interesting to see if Wentz has claimed the starting job or if JJ is handed the keys when healthy,” a second fan commented.
“JJ McCarthy so bad they made him the third string QB for the Philly game,” another fan declared.
The Vikings know McCarthy needs reps to properly evaluate his future. Sitting him with a fake injury would make zero sense.
If the Vikings go on a winning streak with Wentz at quarterback, however, that could put O’Connell and his staff in a tough spot once McCarthy is cleared for action.