SEPTEMBER 19: McCarthy is indeed out for Week 3, and the Vikings are set to fly to Dublin for the following game. With that in mind, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes (video link) Minnesota could very well keep McCarthy sidelined for Week 4 as well. After that, a return to the lineup would be more feasible.
SEPTEMBER 15: J.J. McCarthy was able to finish last night’s game for the Vikings, but at least one contest spent on the sidelines appears to be in store. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said on Monday (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) the second-year quarterback is likely to miss Week 3. 
An ankle sprain is to blame for the (expected) missed time. O’Connell added a move to injured reserve is not expected, but a firm timetable is not currently in place (h/t ESPN’s Kevin Seifert). For at least Minnesota’s upcoming game, it looks as though Carson Wentz will be tasked with handling starting duties. Seifert’s colleague Adam Schefter reports a recovery timeline of two to four weeks could be in store.
McCarthy struggled through the first three quarters of his debut in Week 1. The 2024 No. 10 pick rallied in the fourth to lead the Vikings to a win. Last night against the Falcons, no such resurgence took place. Minnesota lost 22-6 during a game in which the team managed only 10 first downs. McCarthy was sacked six times and intercepted twice. O’Connell did note on Monday the 22-year’s absence (should he miss Week 3) will be strictly based on the injury, not his performance.
A meniscus tear suffered during the preseason last summer resulted in surgery for McCarthy. The Michigan product managed to rehab to the point where he was fully cleared in time for training camp, though. Handling first-team reps throughout the summer, he entered the year with high expectations based on his draft stock and O’Connell’s track record with respect to maximizing the potential of his quarterbacks. Things have not gone according to plan so far in terms of production, and now this ailment stands to delay McCarthy’s development process to an extent.
Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones both departed in free agency knowing the starting position would be handed down to McCarthy. Their absences left Sam Howell in place to handle QB2 duties once he was traded from the Seahawks to the Vikings during the draft. More recently, however, Howell was dealt from Minnesota to Philadelphia with the Vikings electing to sign Wentz late in free agency.
The 32-year-old has made 94 starts in his career, with his most recent spell atop a depth chart coming in Washington in 2022. Wentz served as a backup with the Rams the following year and then did the same with the Chiefs last season. A short stint at the helm early in his Minnesota tenure now looks to be in store.
O’Connell also said on Monday that running back Aaron Jones is unlikely to play against the Bengals in Week 3. With multiple starters up front in danger of remaining sidelined for that game as well, Wentz could find himself at the helm of a notably shorthanded unit.
That offensive line is going to end up killing one of their QBs.
Same for the Bengals. Joe was running for his life until he went down.
Wentz won’t get the job done, may as well call his ambulance now. Vikings should have kept Howell, a tough cookie who had experience playing well behind a mediocre offensive line.
Not sure there’s a QB in the league who would survive a season behind that Vikings line. It was a hard watch on Sunday night.
The Vikings should’ve kept Darnold. The guy went 14-3 for them last year. JJ coming off his injury was unlikely to be effective this year anyways.
Looks like whoever plays for Kevin O’Connell at QB will get the job done. First Kirk Cousins has his best years, then Sam Darnold, JJ McCarthy looked fine pre-injury and even Carson Wentz went into a phonebooth and came out with his rookie season MVP play from ten years ago.
Wentz will perform well, JJ will come back and struggle, team will claim he’s injured and play Wentz who will sneak them into the playoffs leading to an off-season of questioning who should be QB. Vikings mediocre carousel continues.
lol
Kinda like the Daniel Jones haters that said he sucks. It’s only 2 games but he’s been pretty good. McCarthy has been playing like a rookie QB. Wentz just playing average QB will be an improvement. MINN does have some starting OL out.
I’m no Daniel Jones booster, but he had worse scenarios, he’s almost five years younger, and his last good football was more recent.
Wentz is still a young 32. He’s been practicing with the team. Good football will depend on when MINN gets their OL, RB, and WR back.
Well that young 32 turns 33 in a couple of months and he’s now been on six teams in six seasons.
Geno Smith bounced around the league and is older. Decent NFL QB. Darnold figured it out to after some stops. Wentz was a good QB. I doubt he was looking for a starting gig the last few years. Probably learned he needed an attitude adjustment.
No I immediately assumed Danny Dimes was gonna break out, he’s had real success before too. Geno figured it out on his second team. Darnold broke out at 27. Baker at 28. Goff in his 20s.
Don’t know if you’re a kid or not, but there’s no such thing as a “young 32”. One day when you’re 30 you wake up and everything hurts, especially with the injuries Wentz has had.
Wentz rode the bench the last 2 seasons, so that’s 2 years of wear and tear he doesn’t have. He should be 100% good to go. I’d just worry about him getting OL protection Sunday with OLs out. I don’t remember him as a mobile QB. There are plenty of other NFL QBs who are older, with more wear and tear, and still starting.
Burrow out until at least December, McCarthy out next week … that Bengals-Vikings game has lost a lot of luster. Fortunately CBS has good alternatives from among Chargers, Steelers, Texans.
Should have put Wentz in there Week #2.
JJ’s mind was on his fiancée and child.
NOT football.
Remember he’s just 22.
Earning the reputation of being a “Tin Man” early in his career??
Respectfully, you don’t know that. And I’m a Packers fan. Not one to usually defend any decision that plastic purple franchise makes.
Kirk?
The Vikings should have picked up Rodgers and fulfilled the prophecy lol
In all seriousness. Rookies should not start. The Vikings should have gotten ARod. JJ is effectively a rook. This has always been the case. Owners are dumb as hell to give into the fans. You want to know how the Packers have consistently won for decades? Patience at QB. Can you imagine how bad Love would have been in 2020 or 2021 coming from Utah State and during Covid?
For every high pick rookie qb who succeeds, 10 don’t. And that number could be halved with patience.
HEY BARE-MEAT MAYBE THE BARES SHOULD HAVE PICKED UP, AARON RODGERS CAUSE I DONT SEE YOUR KING CALEB AS NO SAVIOR. CALEB TO ME IS NOTHING OF A THROW THE BALL UP IN AIR AND HE HOPING FOR HIS PLAYER TO JUMP AND HOLD YOUR BREATH,HE SAYS PLEASE CATCH IT .. GUYS.. BAREMEAT IF YOU DONT KNOW DETROIT 52 – CHICAGO 21 THAT WAS A ROUT.
Lost your mind or is it just that your capslock key is broken?
MUTED
Vikings got lucky.
“Please come back Kirk! We didn’t mean it!”
Wentz actually had a pretty good season when he started for the colts .. till he blew the last game and missed the playoffs.. irsay vowed he would never play another game for the colts
The Vikings OL sucks that bad. I can’t wait till the packers defensive front 7 feasts on the queens line
McCarthy gained his rep on the backs of a stacked Michigan team…he was only a caretaker then and most probably now too while the Vikings can see for themselves that he’s probably a mediocre QB that will rely on the Vikings strengths on offense and defense to win games….pretty obvious he’s a rookie and surprised that McConnell was this hot on giving him the job as such……
A team expecting to win should have had a solid veteran QB sitting behind McCarthy…not smart
McCarthy is light years away from being ready for the NFL no matter what offensive line he is behind. Wentz is a upgrade.