The Vikings’ thinking on JJ McCarthy gets more perplexing the worse the team gets.
Minnesota has been without its starting quarterback since Week 2 when he suffered a sprained ankle during a loss to the Falcons.
The injury did not force him out of that game and it was a surprise when it was reported the day after the Atlanta loss that McCarthy would miss two to four weeks.
Fast forward almost a month and a half later and McCarthy has not returned and the Vikings’ season hit a low point with a 37-10 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.
SI.com reported that McCarthy told the Vikings staff this week after a workout that his ankle “wasn’t quite all the way back yet” and the team feared that he would lose confidence if they put him out against the Chargers.
J.J. McCarthy warms up before the Vikings game against the Chargers on Oct. 23, 2025. AP
McCarthy was listed as the third quarterback and, of course, was seen on the sidelines nimbly avoiding Justin Jefferson after a catch on Thursday night.
That only added to questions to why he was the team’s emergency third quarterback behind veteran Carson Wentz and rookie Max Brosmer.
JJ McCarthy (9) celebrating on the sideline Thursday. HaterReport_/XIt appears as if McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus will be back for the Vikings’ Week 9 matchup with the NFC North rival Lions.
“If J.J. is healthy, J.J. will play,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “That’s been the case since the injury. That’s always been kind of my mindset, and I believe we’re right — hopefully — around the corner from seeing him be healthy, have a week of preparation and go compete.”
Carson Wentz grabs at his shoulder during Vikings-Chargers game. Getty ImagesMcCarthy’s absence was more palatable when Minnesota was 3-2 but now back-to-back losses have pushed them down the standings in a stacked NFC with a tough schedule ahead.
Wentz was visibly in pain Thursday night as he deals with a left shoulder injury.
He noted that it was “quite possibly” the most pain he’s ever payed through, according to ESPN.com.
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“The pain is pain,” Wentz said. “I felt like I could still help this team and find a way to go down and score and all that stuff. So we knew that coming into the game, that it was going to be part of it. And again, that’s the tough part of Thursday night games. [You] just don’t quite get the chance to recover, but that’s no excuse by any means.”
Wentz’s agony on the field made for an uncomfortable contrast with McCarthy on the sidelines with the Vikings’ season suddenly in jeopardy.
