JJ McCarthy injury update: Kevin O'Connell reveals concerning news for Vikings QB's status vs. Bengals

Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy is dealing with an ankle sprain, according to his head coach, Kevin O’Connell. Now, it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to play on Sunday.

The Vikings are set to play host to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Bengals lost their starting quarterback, Joe Burrow to a turf toe injury that is going to require surgery. So, while McCarthy isn’t officially out yet, it appears to be a battle of backup quarterbacks with Carson Wentz filling in for McCarthy and Jake Browning filling in for Burrow.

It’s unclear exactly when McCarthy suffered the injury. He played every snap for Minnesota against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. That came in a losing effort. It’s also possible that the nagging injury caused what could only be seen as a step back in play for the young signal caller.

It would later be reported that McCarthy is suffering from a high-ankle sprain. With that, he’s set to miss between two and four weeks early in the season. Wentz will fill in as the starter during that time, barring any unforeseen changes.

In his first game as the starting quarterback for Minnesota, McCarthy completed 65 percent of his passes for 143 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. That would come in a winning effort against the Chicago Bears. However, in his second game, McCarthy completed just 52.4 percent of his passes for 158 yards and two interceptions.

Injuries have troubled JJ McCarthy early in his professional career. He would miss his entire rookie season in 2024 with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Now, he’s dealing with the sprained ankle, which likely won’t cost him the season but is now going to cost him some time early in the year.

Carson Wentz will fill in for the injured JJ McCarthy this season. Last season, it was Sam Darnold, who did well enough to earn the starting job with the Seattle Seahawks this season. For his part, Wentz was once a first round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, but after things didn’t work out there he has found himself bouncing around the league. The Vikings are his fifth stop since 2021.

This comes at an emotional time for McCarthy and his family. In the week leading up to their Week 2 game, the Vikings quarterback missed practice for the birth of his son. That was planned, as Kevin O’Connell announced at the time. McCarthy would later announce that Rome Micah McCarthy was born in the lead up to the game. While he would miss practice on Thursday, he was quickly back in the fold with Minnesota.