Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Three total TDs in upset win
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McCarthy completed 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding nine rushes for 12 yards and another score in the Vikings' 27-24 win over the Lions on Sunday. He also fumbled once but recovered.
The second-year signal-caller made his return from a five-game absence and delivered a significant upset in a difficult road environment. McCarthy's final stat line wasn't exactly scintillating, yet it was still fantasy-friendly thanks to his 10- and seven-yard touchdown passes to Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson in the first half, as well as his own nine-yard rush with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter. McCarthy flashed encouraging chemistry with both Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and he'll head into a Week 10 home showdown against the Ravens with plenty of momentum.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Logs full practice Wednesday
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McCarthy (ankle) was a full practice participant Wednesday.
In the wake of Carson Wentz's imminent season-ending surgery on his left non-throwing shoulder, McCarthy was expected to take over starting QB duties for the first time since Week 2 this coming Sunday at Detroit. McCarthy's ability to handle every practice rep to begin Week 9 prep is a great sign that the Vikings will have the 2024 first-round pick back in action for that contest. McCarthy himself told Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune on Wednesday that his right ankle feels "amazing" and "ready to go." As a result, expect McCarthy to resume directing Minnesota's offense this weekend and beyond.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: On track for Week 9 start
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that McCarthy (ankle) will be the starter for Sunday's game against the Lions and get a full week of practice in preparation for his return to the lineup, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
O'Connell essentially doubled down on the comments he offered Tuesday while speaking with KFAN FM 100.3, as Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, O'Connell specified Wednesday that there is nothing left for McCarthy to do to prove his health, an indication that the second-year pro will not only practice in full but also return to the starting lineup on the road against Detroit after having been inactive for Minnesota's prior five contests due to a right high-ankle sprain. With veteran fill-in Carson Wentz (shoulder) now on IR after having undergone season-ending surgery, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will be positioned as the No. 2 option behind McCarthy going forward.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Preparing for Week 9 start
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that he anticipates McCarthy (ankle) having a full week of prep before returning to a starting role Sunday in Detroit, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
McCarthy has been inactive for Minnesota's last five games while tending to a right high-ankle sprain, but he's displayed some progress ever since the Vikings' Week 6 bye. With the benefit of a longer turnaround this week following a loss to the Chargers last Thursday, McCarthy appears poised for full participation when the Vikings return to the practice field Wednesday. Veteran Carson Wentz had been productive while filling in for McCarthy in his first three starts, but he was inaccurate and turnover-prone in losses to the Eagles and Chargers the past two weeks while playing through an injury to his non-throwing shoulder that will now require season-ending surgery, leaving undrafted rookie Max Brosmer as the No. 2 option on the depth chart.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Week 9 Waiver Priority List
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McCarthy (ankle) hasn't played since Week 2, but he's back in Week 9 and will hopefully keep the job for the remainder of the season. In two games this year, McCarthy scored 26.2 Fantasy points against Chicago in Week 1 and 2.8 points against Atlanta in Week 2, which is when he was injured. His upcoming schedule is favorable against Detroit in Week 9, Baltimore in Week 10 and Chicago in Week 11, and hopefully, he'll connect well with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. There's plenty of upside for McCarthy, and he's worth stashing in all leagues if you need a quarterback for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Will start Week 9 if healthy
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Coach Kevin O'Connell said after Thursday night's loss to the Chargers that McCarthy (ankle) will start Week 9 against the Lions if he's healthy, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
McCarthy hasn't played since Week 2, as Carson Wentz has started each of the Vikings' last five contests. However, Wentz -- who has been playing through a painful left (non-throwing) shoulder issue -- was sacked five times Thursday and looked defeated at the end of the loss to the Chargers, as he was pressured and hit relentlessly by the Los Angeles defense. The Vikings have dropped two games in a row and three of the last four with Wentz at quarterback. McCarthy has been logging limited practices of late, and he'll now have 10 days to try and get ready for a date with Detroit.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Serving as emergency QB again
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McCarthy (ankle) is listed as inactive Thursday at the Chargers but will be available as the emergency third quarterback, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
McCarthy thus won't be active for a fifth consecutive game due to his ongoing recovery from a high right-ankle sprain, but his standing as the emergency third QB for a second straight contest gives him a chance to play if both starter Carson Wentz and backup Max Brosmer leave Thursday's matchup due to injuries. McCarthy himself has put together back-to-back weeks of limited on-field work, and coach Kevin O'Connell even told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com that the second-year quarterback's workout Tuesday was "just not there," but could have been if the Vikings had a Sunday game on the schedule. McCarthy's next chance for his first action since Week 2 is Sunday, Nov. 2 in Detroit.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Officially questionable for Week 8
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McCarthy (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game at the Chargers.
Coach Kevin O'Connell announced Tuesday that McCarthy was slated to serve as the emergency third quarterback Week 8 for a second consecutive contest, meaning he'll be inactive and designated as such once the Vikings post their list about 90 minutes before Thursday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. O'Connell also told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com that McCarthy's on-field workout Tuesday was "just not there" but could have been if Minnesota had a Sunday game on tap. In any case, Carson Wentz (left shoulder) will get the start Thursday while McCarthy will turn his focus to a Week 9 road matchup against the Lions on Sunday, Nov. 2.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Not ready to start Week 8
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Head coach Kevin O'Connell announced that McCarthy (ankle) will be inactive as the Vikings' emergency No. 3 quarterback for Thursday's game against the Chargers.
McCarthy was able to turn in three limited practices last week, but the Vikings chose to keep him inactive for this past Sunday's loss to the Eagles while he continues to recover from a right high-ankle sprain. Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, O'Connell noted that McCarthy displayed some progress in an on-field workout Tuesday and might have had a shot at playing Week 8 if the Vikings had a Sunday game, but the coach conceded that the young signal-caller is "just not there" yet. As a result, Carson Wentz (shoulder) will pick up his fifth consecutive start while Max Brosmer serves as the No. 2 quarterback, but the top job is expected to be returned to McCarthy once he's 100 percent healthy. McCarthy looks like he'll have a chance to return to the lineup Nov. 2 at Detroit.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Inactive as third quarterback
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McCarthy (ankle) is inactive as the Vikings' emergency No. 3 quarterback for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
Following the Vikings' Week 6 bye, McCarthy was able to return to practice this week for the first time since suffering a right high-ankle sprain in a Sept. 14 loss to the Falcons. However, McCarthy practiced Wednesday through Friday only on a limited basis, prompting the Vikings to hold him out for another week while Carson Wentz starts and Max Brosmer serves as his top backup. The Vikings plan to hold off on a decision on a permanent starter at quarterback until McCarthy is 100 percent healthy, and at this stage, the second-year signal-caller may not be a realistic option for the club until Week 9 in Detroit on Nov. 2. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, McCarthy's ankle sprain was viewed as a six-week injury at the time he got hurt, and with a Thursday night game in Los Angeles versus the Chargers on tap following Sunday's game against Philadelphia, Minnesota doesn't have much incentive to rush the 22-year-old back into action on a short week.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Stays limited in practice
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McCarthy (ankle) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.
McCarthy continues to operate with a cap on his practice reps after getting back onto the field for the first time since sustaining a high right-ankle sprain Week 2 versus the Falcons. Coach Kevin O'Connell previously said McCarthy would need to put together a week of full sessions in order to start, but he also relayed to Alec Lewis of The Athletic on Wednesday that he wasn't ready to name a starter between McCarthy and Carson Wentz (shoulder), the latter of whom has been a full practice participant this week. There's a decent chance O'Connell will make an announcement Friday ahead of Sunday's contest against the Eagles, but McCarthy at least is back in the conversation to lead the Vikings offense on game days.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Starter for Week 7 TBD
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said both McCarthy (ankle) and Carson Wentz (shoulder) will participate in practice Wednesday but declined to name a starter for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
McCarthy returned to practice Monday, coming off Minnesota's bye, for the first time since suffering a right high-ankle sprain Sept. 14. O'Connell had previously indicated that McCarthy would require a full week of practice before being cleared for a return to the lineup, but it remains to be seen whether Wentz might have a chance to retain the No. 1 gig in the event that both quarterbacks are healthy enough to play. Wentz, for his part, is managing an injury to his left, non-throwing shoulder, and O'Connell said he "took a normal amount of throws" at practice Monday.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Ready for on-field work
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Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that McCarthy (ankle) will get "extensive work" on the field while the Vikings are on bye Week 6, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Assuming McCarthy's right high-ankle sprain responds well to the on-field activity over the next few days, the second-year quarterback is expected to be reintegrated into practices in Week 7 following a three-week absence. Veteran Carson Wentz started in each of the last three games while McCarthy has been sidelined and led Minnesota to a 2-1 record, but Wentz's status is now in question after he was briefly forced out of this past Sunday's win over the Browns with a left shoulder injury. O'Connell didn't provide many details on Wentz's injury Monday, beyond noting that the 32-year-old is "pretty sore" and set for further evaluation. The practice activity of both quarterbacks will be worth monitoring in Week 7, and O'Connell will likely take into account the health of both signal-callers before naming a starter ahead of the Vikings' next game Oct. 19 versus the Eagles.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Ruled out for Sunday
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The Viking have ruled out McCarthy (ankle) for Sunday's game against the Browns in London.
With McCarthy still sidelined due to a right high-ankle sprain, Carson Wentz is slated to draw a third straight start at quarterback while working behind a shorthanded offensive line. McCarthy -- who last played Week 2 -- will thus target a potential return to action Oct. 19 against the Eagles, following the Vikings' Week 6 bye.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Not practicing Wednesday
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McCarthy (ankle) was not spotted at the portion of Wednesday's practice open to the media, Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said the "hope is soon" that McCarthy will be "back on an individual level," per Alec Lewis of The Athletic. That said, O'Connell noted that he "probably would not expose [McCarthy] to the look team" in the immediate future, a signal that the second-year quarterback doesn't have a very real chance to be available for Sunday's game against the Browns in London. McCarthy hasn't yet been ruled out for Week 5, but even if active, it's likely he would operate in a backup role behind Carson Wentz. The Vikings will benefit from a bye Week 6, making Sunday, Oct. 19 against the Eagles in Week 7 a more realistic tentative date for McCarthy's return, though it's possible Wentz could retain the starting job if he's able to turn in another strong showing versus Cleveland.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: May be ready to practice this week
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Head coach Kevin O'Connell suggested Tuesday that McCarthy (ankle) could be ready to resume practicing this week, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports. "My hope is ... maybe not necessarily early on - we're going to handle Wednesday, probably in a unique way, from what could be kind of a hybrid day, but as we get into Thursday and Friday, I'm hoping we can at least get him out there and get him taking some drops and starting to get back in the normal rhythm of the practice week," O'Connell said of McCarthy. "It will all depend on kind of where he's at with the benchmarks of being able to go out there and start moving around a little bit."
O'Connell didn't comment on McCarthy's potential availability for Sunday's game against the Browns in London, but since the second-year signal-caller isn't expected to be ready to handle full reps with the first-team offense during the week, he'll likely be ticketed for a backup role if he's active in Week 5. Carson Wentz has started under center the last two games, leading the Vikings to a 1-1 record while completing 44 of 66 passes for 523 yards (7.9 YPA), four touchdowns and two interceptions. O'Connell hasn't ruled out the possibility of the veteran retaining the starting job even after McCarthy is back to full health, though it may be contingent on Wentz turning in a quality outing in Week 5 against a stout Browns defense.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Could practice next week
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McCarthy (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Steelers in Dublin, but he could get some limited work in practice next week ahead of Minnesota's Week 5 game in London against the Browns, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Though McCarthy may take some on-field reps next week, head coach Kevin O'Connell has suggested that the second-year signal-caller will need to turn in a full week of full practices before being cleared to play. As a result, McCarthy appears likely to miss a third straight game in Week 5 before potentially returning to action following a Week 6 bye. Carson Wentz should continue to direct the Minnesota offense in McCarthy's absence.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Status TBD with sprained ankle
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Coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that McCarthy has a sprained ankle, and it's unclear if he'll be available Sunday against the Bengals, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
McCarthy had a rough Week 2, completing 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions while turning five carries into 25 yards and losing one of his three fumbles during Sunday's 22-6 loss to the Falcons. If McCarthy ends up missing Week 3, veteran Carson Wentz is in line to step in and lead the Vikings offense.
McCarthy completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding two carries for 25 yards and another score in the Vikings' 27-24 win over the Bears on Monday night. He also threw a two-point conversion pass.
Making his long-awaited regular-season debut, McCarthy mostly scuffled through the first three quarters before igniting a 21-point outburst in the final period. The 2024 first-round pick connected with Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones for fourth-quarter touchdown passes of 13 and 27 yards, respectively, and he followed those scoring strikes with a 14-yard touchdown run to extend Minnesota's 20-17 lead at the 2:53 mark of the fourth quarter. McCarthy also completed a two-point conversion to Adam Thielen, and he connected with seven different targets overall when factoring in that scoring toss. The second-year signal-caller now will prepare for his home regular-season debut, a Week 2 matchup against the Falcons on Sunday night.
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Sleeper QBs
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McCarthy is a wildcard in Week 1 against the Bears since this is his first NFL start after missing his rookie campaign in 2024 with a knee injury. Chicago might get a boost with cornerback Jaylon Johnson (groin) hoping to play, but the secondary still has question marks. Justin Jefferson (hamstring) is healthy for the Vikings, and Adam Thielen will help McCarthy get over the loss of Jordan Addison (suspension) early in the season, along with T.J. Hockenson.
