JJ McCarthy injury update: Vikings QB expected to miss two to four weeks with high ankle sprain

Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy is expected to miss two to four weeks with a high ankle sprain, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Initially, he was expected to miss Sunday’s start against the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, he’ll be out potentially a month.

The Bengals lost their starting quarterback Joe Burrow to a turf toe injury that is going to require surgery. With McCarthy out, 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.

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 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.

JJ McCarthy out for two to four weeks, Carson Wentz to start

Now the team will turn to Wentz, who’s on the sixth team of his NFL career. Now in his 10th season, the former No. 2 overall pick will get his first start since the end of the 2024 season with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wentz is likely the guy for at least two games anyway. He was previously the franchise quarterback of the philadelpjhia Eagles, winning Super Bowl LII, albeit watching from the sidelines nursing a torn ACL. Wentz was the frontrunner for MVP in 2017 before the injury ended his season.

Over the course of the next two years, Wentz showed flashes of his elite self, but never returned to form. Struggles in 2020 and the emergence of a then-rookie Jalen Hurts forced his trade to the Indianapolis Colts. However, Wentz lasted just one season with the Colts and then the Washington Commanders over the following two seasons.

In 2023, Wentz served as a backup for the Los Angeles Rams before signing with the Chiefs in 2024. Now, he’ll get a crack to steer the Vikings’ ship for McCarthy, potentially over the next four games. Over the course of his career, Wentz has 22,410 yards, 153 touchdowns, 67 interceptions, a 62.7% completion percentage, 1,418 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.