With 10 games left in the regular season, all signs point to the return this week of quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He was on the practice field Monday in Eagan.
McCarthy has been out since suffering a high ankle sprain during the Week 2 loss vs. Atlanta. Carson Wentz, the starter the last five games, was not spotted at practice on Monday. He took a beating during last Thursday night’s loss in Los Angeles vs. the Chargers.
KSTP Sports was at Monday’s practice and spoke with OL Will Fries, RB Aaron Jones Sr., and DL Jonathan Allen.
**_\*\*\*Click the video box above to watch our conversations with Fries, Jones Sr., and Allen\*\*\*_**
Fries noted how excited he is for the return of McCarthy.
The Vikings were all-in on developing McCarthy this season with the belief they could insulate him from some of the natural struggles of inexperience by surrounding him with a stacked veteran team and a savvy coaching staff.
The plan has all but disintegrated with another injury for McCarthy delaying his progress and all kinds of problems popping up on both sides of the ball. The Vikings were blown out by the Chargers 37-10 for the second-worst loss in four years under coach Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings play at Detroit next Sunday.
The Vikings were dealt a tough blow when McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the draft last year, needed meniscus surgery on his right knee before making it to the regular season. The high sprain of his right ankle he finished his second game with has been even more devastating, considering the way Sam Darnold mostly flourished in 2024 and Wentz has mostly flopped in 2024.
Minnesota has lost to Detroit five times in a row, the longest skid since their first five matchups from 1961-63. The Vikings have also dropped four straight games in Detroit. Kickoff Sunday is at noon.
The Vikings expect to have right tackle Brian O’Neill (knee) and left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) for the game in Detroit. O’Neill missed last week, while Darrisaw came out after playing just nine snaps.
We’ll find out later in the week if Sunday could mark the return of LB Andrew Van Ginkel. He was spotted at Monday’s practice. He’s missed five of the first seven games due to a neck injury.
New injuries that popped up against the Chargers were to LB Jonathan Greenard (ankle) and TE Josh Oliver (foot). Greenard was spotted after practice on Monday, while Oliver is expected to miss some time.