When Should J.J. McCarthy Return to the Field?
The Minnesota Vikings are resting up on their bye week in the hopes of getting some key players back on the field healthy.
While it is a down week in terms of actual happenings around the Vikings’ organization, there is one hot-button topic that still continues to circulate around pockets of Vikings fans: when exactly should J.J. McCarthy return to the field in 2025, if at all?
Let’s dive into that topic going over his performances so far in 2025 compared to Carson Wentz’s as well as the Vikings’ upcoming schedule.
Initial Injury Prognosis
Before we do anything, though, it is important to note the situation at hand regarding McCarthy’s injury. The second-year QB suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 (that he managed to finish the game on), and he was initially given a timeline of being out for four to six weeks.
Well, he has now missed three games, and the bye week will be the fourth week of recovery. So, we are officially in the initial window given for McCarthy. As a result, a return in Week 7 very well could be possible, but is it the smart thing for the Vikings to do even if he is able to get a full week of practice in?
J.J. McCarthy vs. Carson Wentz
Let’s break down some actual numbers. In two starts with McCarthy at the helm, the Vikings are 1-1, and these are the numbers he’s put up:
- 58.5% completion
- 301 passing yards
- 50 rushing yards
- 3 total touchdowns
- 3 interceptions
- 21.6 QBR
- 55.5 PFF grade
Meanwhile, the Vikings are 2-1 with Wentz as the starting QB. Here are his numbers:
- 69% completion
- 759 passing yards
- 29 rushing yards
- 5 total touchdowns
- 2 interceptions
- 41.6 QBR
- 61.8 PFF grade
Of course, there are some caveats here because of injuries and Jordan Addison’s three-game suspension. Then there’s also the fact that the Vikings absolutely ran away with their Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, largely because of a fantastic defensive performance, so Wentz didn’t have to take a ton of risks.
For example, who knows what would have happened if McCarthy had his star left tackle protecting him in Week 2 and his WR2 as an additional target. Perhaps his numbers look a bit better, and maybe, he doesn’t get injured at all.
The point being, some of these numbers are a bit nebulous, but for now, they point slightly in favor of the 10-year veteran Wentz.
Vikings’ Remaining Schedule
As many have pointed out throughout the summer and into the start of the season, the Vikings have a much more difficult schedule after their bye week than they did before it, or at least, that is what it looks like on paper.
Minnesota comes out of its bye week with a matchup against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Of course, we just watched them get beat up by the New York Giants on Thursday night for their second consecutive loss, so they are beatable.
Still, this is a very talented roster, and it would make sense if the Vikings opt to wait another week to get McCarthy back into the lineup. That being said, Minnesota follows up that Week 7 game with trips to Los Angeles and Detroit, so is that really any better?
Ultimately, the Vikings need to see what they have in McCarthy, and they will need to put him in difficult situations at one point or another. The Vikings spent a top-10 draft pick on him nearly two years ago. If he is healthy, he should be the one under center.
Editor’s Note: Information from ESPN, Pro Football Focus, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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