J.J. McCarthy injury update: Vikings make final decison on QB's status for Browns game

After missing all of last season as a rookie, J.J. McCarthy started in the first two games this year before missing the past two with a high ankle sprain. He’ll now be out for a third game this season based on the latest reporting on the Vikings’ quarterback.

Per Tom Pelissero at the NFL Network, Minnesota has ruled out McCarthy for Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns in London. That’ll mean a third-straight start for Carson Wentz for the Vikings.

“The #Vikings officially ruled out QB J.J. McCarthy for Sunday’s game vs. the #Browns,” Pelissero posted on Friday morning. “Carson Wentz starts again behind a line without three starters — C Ryan Kelly, RT Brian O’Neill and LG Donovan Jackson — as well as backup C Michael Jurgens. LB Andrew Van Ginkel is also out.”

McCarthy suffered a sprained ankle in the Vikings’ second game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football. He has since missed a home game against the Cincinnati Bengals and a neutral-site game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, also across the pond in Dublin, Ireland. He will now miss this game against the Browns in London, England.

In the pair of appearances in his place, Wentz is 44-66 (66.7%) for 523 yards, averaging 261.5 per game, with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Minnesota has then split those two games with a 38-point blowout of the Bengals in Minneapolis before losing overseas by three to the Steelers.

If nothing else, this absence is not ideal considering the time and experience that McCarthy has already missed to begin his career since being the No. 10 pick by the Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was out for all of last season with a torn meniscus in the preseason, having a pair of surgeries on his knee, and will now have missed over half of the team’s games this season, albeit being just five matchups in.

McCarthy could clearly use it, too, based on what he has shown this season in his own two games. He was 24-41 (58.5%) for 301 yards, posting 150.5 yards per, with two touchdowns and three interceptions, while also having rushed for another score, during a 1-1 start against Chicago and Atlanta.

McCarthy showed flashes in the comeback win over the Bears, being 13-20 (65%) for 143 yards, three total touchdowns, all in the fourth quarter, and one interception but then really struggled against the Falcons, being 11-21 (52.4%) for 158 yards and two picks.