Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy admitted on Wednesday at TCO Performance Center to having an alter ego that comes out on gamedays. He called it “Nine,” which is his uniform number. He said it came out after he missed 23 of his first 25 NFL games because of injury.
The rage has been on full display in victorious postgame locker rooms.
**_\*\*\*Click the video box above to watch McCarthy detail his alter ego, plus see what coach Kevin O’Connell had to say about two-time MVP Ravens QB Lamar Jackson\*\*\*_**
“I kind of love feeding that wolf,” McCarthy said. “My entire life at \[the University of Michigan\], there was a smiley face on my hand, and \[if\] you smile, and you have fun, you’re going to play better and all that, which is true. But I also think there’s a lot of power that comes from that built-up anger that you can transmute into your performance.”
The Vikings were without a few key players during Wednesday’s practice in Eagan. Running back Aaron Jones (shoulder/toe), safety Theo Jackson (concussion), and Josh Oliver (foot) all didn’t practice. Jones felt confident postgame Sunday in Detroit that he wouldn’t miss any games. Jackson was on the field observing practice, which is encouraging.
The Ravens reported no injuries.
Kickoff Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium is at noon.