The Minnesota Vikings started veteran quarterback Carson Wentz against the Los Angeles Chargers on “Thursday Night Football.”
J.J. McCarthy was used as the emergency third quarterback option, as the second-year quarterback is dealing with an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined since the Vikings‘ 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. Minnesota plans to start McCarthy against the Detroit Lions in Week 9.
However, McCarthy wasn’t completely safe on the sidleine Thursday night.
With 12:11 remaining in the second quarter and Minnesota trailing 14-0, Chargers cornerback Cam Hart made a tackle on Justin Jefferson that caused the Vikings wide receiver to fall into McCarthy and appear to hit the quarterback’s injured right ankle. McCarthy had to hop awkwardly on his ankle.
McCarthy didn’t seem to be bothered by Jefferson colliding with him, as he immediately jumped back and gestured in a celebratory manner that Minnesota earned a first down on the grab by the star receiver.
Per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, McCarthy’s ankle has healed enough that he could have played on Thursday night if he had to, but Minnesota wants the young quarterback to play when he’s 100 percent.
“If McCarthy were 50 or 100 starts into his NFL career, the Vikings might've decided the best course would be to have him hobbling around out there against a Chargers team that's going to be raring to break loose of the 1–3 rut it's in,” Breer wrote. “As it is, the chance he goes out there and aggravates the injury, and loses confidence, makes the idea of McCarthy playing not worth it.”
McCarthy threw for 301 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in his first two games this season. The former Michigan standout rushed for 50 yards and a touchdown.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Vikings have anything to say after the game about McCarthy’s ankle taking a shot from Jefferson on the sideline. Hopefully, he won’t suffer any sort of setback.
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.