The Minnesota Vikings appear to be ready for J.J. McCarthy’s return as their starting quarterback next week, after recovering from a high right ankle sprain that kept him out for six weeks. McCarthy has been the Vikings’ third-string emergency quarterback in two consecutive games, including the 37-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. After the game, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell reaffirmed his intention for McCarthy to return to the field as soon as possible. If J.J. is healthy, J.J. will play. That’s been the case since the injury. That’s always been my way of thinking, and I think we’re just around the corner, hopefully, from seeing him healthy, having a week of preparation and competing. McCarthy started in the first two games of the Vikings’ season, but reported significant pain in his right ankle the morning after the 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on September 14. O’Connell initially classified McCarthy’s status as “week-to-week”, and McCarthy later said he was given a timeline of up to six weeks for a full recovery. The Vikings put him through a workout on Tuesday at their practice facility to see if playing against the Chargers was an option, but O’Connell said: “J.J. and the medical staff didn’t feel he was ready yet.” With a “mini-break” this weekend, and then an additional practice scheduled for Monday, the Vikings will give McCarthy all the time needed to return to the starting position in time for their November 2nd game against the Detroit Lions. Backup Carson Wentz has started five games in place of McCarthy, accumulating a 2-3 record, but has been playing with a significant injury to his left shoulder that had him in obvious distress on Thursday night. He said it was “possibly” the most intense pain he has felt during a football game, and largely attributed it to his reduced recovery time due to the Thursday night game. The Vikings’ medical staff put a shoulder harness and several other protective bandages on him, which Wentz said he had never used “anything remotely like” in order to play. He finished with 15 of 27 passes for 144 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He suffered five sacks and was hit eight times. After taking a hit on an incomplete fourth-down play in the final quarter, Wentz threw his helmet to the bench, for which he later apologized to the team’s equipment staff, and covered his face with a towel.
O’Connell said he was in constant conversation with Wentz and the team’s medical staff, but never thought he needed to replace him until the game was out of reach. With McCarthy designated as the emergency quarterback, the first available option by rule would have been undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. Brosmer didn’t enter the game until 1 minute and 56 seconds remained.Pain is pain. I felt like I could still help this team and find a way to score and all that. So we knew that was going to be part of it going into the game. And, again, that’s the tough part about Thursday night games. You just don’t get a chance to recover, but that’s no excuse by any means.
Carson Wentz
Carson is a veteran player and understands some of our circumstances tonight. I think it’s very difficult to ask a rookie to come in for his first performance and have to endure a bit for the group.
Kevin O’Connell
