Idyllic Vikings Season Served a Death Notice
The way it was supposed to be has not played out, nor will it return to that exact path.
Fans were cruising along over the last few months, excited about the team’s trajectory. All the expected would-be bliss died Monday.
Injuries have rocked the Minnesota Vikings in the last weeks, accentuated by J.J. McCarthy’s high ankle sprain that he suffered in Week 2.
Fans had hopes that McCarthy would play from cover to cover this season while possibly flirting with a playoff spot. No matter what, the pristine plan is gone for Minnesota.
The Original Script Is Dead for the Vikings
Now, it’s about responding to adversity.
J.J. McCarthy Out 2-4 Weeks
The tweet that started the frenzy from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero: “Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is unlikely to play Sunday because of an ankle sprain, coach Kevin O’Connell said. This sets up a backup QB duel Sunday: Carson Wentz vs. Jake Browning and the Bengals.”
The who’s who of NFL reporting later clarified the injury as a high ankle sprain, sending McCarthy to the shelf with an unknown return date. The best-case scenario is two weeks, though high ankle sprains often linger.
A wide faction of Vikings loyalists expected McCarthy to play somewhat admirably this season, remain upright and healthy, and possibly contend for the division.
The McCarthy part of that initial plan is toast.
Injuries Rattle Everything
On top of McCarthy’s malady, Minnesota is battling injuries or suspensions to the following players:
- Jordan Addison
- Blake Cashman
- Ty Chandler
- Christian Darrisaw
- C.J. Ham
- Aaron Jones
- Ryan Kelly
- J.J. McCarthy
- Rondale Moore
- Gabriel Murphy
- Jeff Okudah
- Justin Skule
- Harrison Smith
- Andrew Van Ginkel
And that’s after two weeks of football. The enterprise is rapidly crumbling. Minnesota can hopefully salvage the season, but it assuredly won’t occur as planned.
Lackluster 7 of 8 Quarters Anyhow
Let’s be frank: Vikings football has produced 87% futility through two games. The team showcased one good quarter, the 4th in Chicago, when McCarthy orchestrated a 4th Quarter comeback in his first-ever game.
That moment feels like a million years ago as of Monday morning.
Therefore, any hopes of a 10-7 or 11-6 season had a faint heartbeat deep inside the Week 2 loss against the Atlanta Falcons. Minnesota played moronically for three hours, with only a few glimpses of positivity.
Now, 10-7 or 11-6 feels like the top-top ceiling.
Hope for Change with a Backup QB
The death notice can be reversed, though — in true Vikingsian form.
In the past — dating back decades — Minnesota has thrived when the backup quarterback entered the lineup. Men like Randall Cunningham, Jeff George, Joshua Dobbs, Case Keenum, and arguably Sam Darnold have stories.
The franchise’s history absolutely involves a QB2 winning fans’ hearts en route to a surprise playoff appearance. In some ways, the script seems self-fulfilling.
But in terms of initial expectations, the whole screenplay has been tossed out the window. Minnesota must learn and adapt, hoping to salvage a season on the fly without McCarthy, it’s giant hope for the future.
Extra McCarthy Notes
NFL.com‘s Kevin Patra noted on McCarthy’s injury: “McCarthy has struggled for much of his first two outings this season. After a brutal first half in Week 1 in Chicago, the 2024 first-round pick turned things around, spearheading a comeback. In Week 2, McCarthy was once again rattled, completing 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards while taking six sacks and throwing two interceptions for a 37.5 passer rating.”
“The Falcons’ pass rush was particularly brutal for McCarthy as Atlanta logged six sacks and 23 pressures. The Michigan product has played about 1.5 good quarters out of eight this year after missing his entire first season due to a preseason knee injury. O’Connell told reporters on Monday that he doesn’t think McCarthy’s ankle injury would require a trip to injured reserve, which would knock him out for at least four weeks.”
The way it’s trending, McCarthy will have missed 18 of his first eligible 20 NFL games.
“However, the club doesn’t have a firm timetable for his potential absence. Pelissero noted that the Vikings have back-to-back international games in Weeks 4 and 5 — Sept. 28 vs. the Steelers in Dublin and Oct. 5 vs. the Browns in London — which could present an additional challenge for McCarthy’s return,” Patra added.
“McCarthy isn’t the only Vikings player to come out of Sunday’s loss banged up. Running back Aaron Jones is likely out for Week 3 after suffering a hamstring injury. Center Ryan Kelly and left tackle Justin Skule– starting in place of Christian Darrisaw — are in concussion protocol.”
The Vikings’ win-loss over-under has shrunken to 8.5 wins over the last several hours, down from 9.5.
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