Disaster Strikes the Vikings with J.J. McCarthy News
Just as Minnesota Vikings fans began to digest injury news regarding a bevy of impactful players, the worst kind of announcement arrived on Monday, one day after the team buffoonishly lost to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2.
Adversity is here, as the Vikings were hit with J.J. McCarthy news that shakes the immediate plans in 2025. Here’s the unfortunate fallout.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy sprained his ankle and has already been ruled out of Week 3, a meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals, a franchise that will be without its starting passer, too, Joe Burrow.
Vikings to Be J.J. McCarthy-Less for at Least a Week — Probably Longer
Vikings fans verifiably cannot have nice things.
J.J. McCarthy Out for Week 3 — Ankle Sprain
Here’s the horrid tweet that provided full clarity from ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “ESPN sources: Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is expected to be sidelined two-to-four weeks with a high ankle sprain. With McCarthy out, Vikings QB Carson Wentz is now in line to start.”
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling added, “Kevin O’Connell said the Vikings don’t anticipate J.J. McCarthy going on injured reserve, but the team doesn’t have an exact timeline for his return yet. They’ll see how he responds to treatment this week.”
And Kevin O’Connell told reporters, “Hearing from our medical staff, it’s one of those things that tends to be much worse today than it probably was in the moment for him, with adrenaline and everything.”
A Devastating Blow for a Reeling Team
On top of the McCarthy bombshell, Minnesota was already dealing with injuries and suspensions to these players:
- C.J. Ham
- Ryan Kelly
- Justin Skule
- Ty Chandler
- Jeff Okudah
- Aaron Jones
- J.J. McCarthy
- Harrison Smith
- Blake Cashman
- Jordan Addison
- Rondale Moore
- Gabriel Murphy
- Christian Darrisaw
- Andrew Van Ginkel
And that’s a mere two weeks into the season.
Fans had just processed the list above on Monday morning, only to be absolutely rocked by McCarthy’s ankle sprain. A true and absolute nightmare.
Carson Wentz on Deck
What’s next? Easy — Carson Wentz will take the controls of the Vikings’ offense, a player who bedazzled the NFL masses in his first four seasons but later fell by the wayside when the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Jalen Hurts as a replacement.
Wentz has a big arm and is somewhat respected around the league, but he has not succeeded productively as a starter since 2019.
You, the Vikings fan, are about to experience yet another tale of a backup quarterback taking the reins. Unbelievable.
If Wentz struggles, onlookers will not hesitate to chant for undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer, who shone in the preseason.
Vikings Usually Start Winning Games in the Face of Adversity
Not for nothing, when bad news strikes the purple team, it usually excels thereafter.
The weird phenomenon prevailed in 2017 when Sam Bradford was lost for the season, and Case Keenum took over. Minnesota reached the NFC Title Game. In 2023, Justin Jefferson hit the shelf with a bad hamstring, and sitting ugly with a 1-4 record, Minnesota promptly won five straight.
Last season, all hope was lost when Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL. The Vikings responded by winning — you guessed it — nine straight.
The McCarthy news is not good — it is utterly terrible, in fact — but Minnesota has a documented history of rising when hope is lost.
More on Wentz
Sporting News‘ Bill Heyen wrote Monday, “In the span of just an hour, they traded Howell away to the Philadelphia Eagles and signed free agent QB Carson Wentz as his replacement. It didn’t give Wentz a full summer with the Vikings, but they clearly must’ve felt he was their preferred backup option.”
“Howell was needed in Philly with planned-for QB2 Tanner McKee injured, so he slotted temporarily right behind Jalen Hurts. And Wentz came to town to be McCarthy’s actual veteran backup. Of course, Minnesota would’ve loved for McCarthy’s first season as a starter (after a season-ending knee injury as a rookie) to be smooth.”
The Vikings have a long-long history of the backup quarterback thriving against all odds.
“In the opener, he struggled for three quarters before a valiant final frame was enough for a comeback. McCarthy never got off the ground in Week 2’s loss to the Falcons. And late in that game, he hurt his ankle. He’s expected to miss Week 3 against the Bengals. That leaves Wentz,” Heyen added.
“He wasn’t even with the Vikings until the middle of the preseason. But the former No. 2 overall pick is now staring at a start in Week 3. Minnesota will be hoping it made the right move to send Howell away and bring Wentz on board.”
Teams led by Wentz, the former second overall pick, have a 47-46-1 record on his watch since 2016.
Minnesota is a two-point favorite this weekend against the Bengals, even with the McCarthy announcement.
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