JJ McCarthy - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are back on the 2025 NFL regular season schedule again this week, after completing their bye. And as promised previously by head coach Kevin O’Connell, who met with media on Monday, the new week began with some good news on the injury front.
Right tackle Brian O’Neill returned to practice on Monday, as did linebacker Blake Cashman and backup center, Michael Jurgens. Even left guard Donovan Jackson, who underwent a wrist procedure a few weeks ago, is getting back into the swing of things at TCO Performance Center.
All eyes on Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks this week
But this week, all eyes are on the Minnesota Vikings quarterback room. That’s where 2024 No. 10 overall draft pick JJ McCarthy is preparing for his return from a high-ankle sprain, which caused him to miss the last three games.
The pressure to get McCarthy ready by Sunday has been amped up too, after his veteran backup, Carson Wentz suffered a non-throwing shoulder injury in London, against the Cleveland Browns. Entering the week, even the Vikings aren’t sure who will play QB against the Philadelphia Eagles, a game that is now just five days out.
According to Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, both JJ McCarthy and Carson Wentz were healthy enough to participate in team practice drills, on Monday. While the head coach didn’t come close to naming a starter, he did seem somewhat optimistic about where both his QB1 and QB2 are at, physically.
The boys are back from the bye week 👀
J.J. McCarthy practiced for the first time in front of cameras since his ankle injury vs. the Falcons.
Kevin O’Connell says they plan to ramp things up… we’ll see Sunday if JJ’s ready to roll. #Skol @Fox9Sports @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/MmCQvOnhPE
— Ahmad Hicks (@AhmadHicksTV) October 13, 2025
Kevin O’Connell says he’s not ready to say if he does or doesn’t expect J.J. McCarthy to be ready to play Sunday vs. Philly.
He says he wants to see how this week plays out, in terms of what McCarthy is able to do on the practice field. pic.twitter.com/Rj9TVt0D6r
— Chris Long (@ChrisLongKSTP) October 13, 2025
However, paying attention to the vibes around insiders locally, it’s starting to feel like O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings are preparing for more Wentz against the Eagles, if able, while leaning toward more “rest” for McCarthy.
Monday morning, around the team beat, reporters are all talking about what has become a two-step recovery process for their 22-year-old redshirt rookie quarterback.
Not only does McCarthy need to be physically ready to play behind an offensive line that is still far from 100%, but it also means that JJ’s timing and footwork must be fixed before the Vikings will throw him back to the wolves.
McCarthy’s timeline has two variables. The first is his health…O’Connell highlighted the importance of mobility to McCarthy’s play style… [and] being able to repeatedly plant and fire at a high level.
The second variable? Refined lower-body mechanics. O’Connell has referred to the subject too many times at this point for it not to carry major significance… The bye week allowed O’Connell hands-on time with McCarthy to review many of the core teaching points. O’Connell described it as “building that foundation back up.”
Alec Lewis – The Athletic
Head Coach Kevin O'Connell gives an update on @jjmccarthy09 pic.twitter.com/h1quJAWjdl
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 13, 2025
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Could the MN Vikings be waiting more so on McCarthy’s fundamentals and mental QB health, than they are about the physical health of his ankle, at this point? Last we heard, JJ’s ankle isn’t totally healthy yet. There is no doubt that is part of the equation to getting him back on the field.
But there is no doubt that the Vikings are also weighing things other than JJ McCarthy’s physical health, when internally discussing his return timeline. Of course, if he does not start this week, the clock will start ticking on fan patience. Because once we get passed week 7, it will be exponentially more difficult to hide behind his ankle injury.
Mentioned in this article: Carson Wentz injury updates J.J. McCarthy More About: Minnesota Vikings