J.J. McCarthy Will Play vs. Lions If Healthy, Vikings HC Provides Update on Injury

Carson Wentz started yet again for the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, but J.J. McCarthy's potential return may not be far off.

After Thursday's loss to the Chargers, head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters McCarthy will start next week if he's healthy, which has been the case since he suffered the injury.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported prior to Thursday's game that McCarthy is "close" to a return:

"Now, best-case scenario for the Vikings is that McCarthy is fully healthy, ready and their starting quarterback. He's close. He did work out earlier this week, not quite there yet... First of all, no firm decision until after tonight—if Wentz goes out and throws for 400 yards, that will be taken into consideration. Kevin O'Connell is not going to put McCarthy out there until he can be successful. The hope is that's next week."

McCarthy served as an emergency third quarterback for Thursday's game behind Wentz and backup Max Brosmer, much as he was during Sunday's 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Vikings selected McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft but he's only appeared in two games, both this year. A torn meniscus cost him the entirety of the 2024 season, while this year's high-ankle sprain has kept him out of commission since since mid-September.

"It's really just about, hey, there's maybe a guy gets edged and I don't really know the movement I'm going to have to make. That's where he still feels it," O'Connell told reporters when asked what would be required for him to feel comfortable putting McCarthy back on the field. "He doesn't have the ability to do that pain-free. We obviously risk setting him back, which would be very, very unfortunate with the time lost already, but also giving him the best chance to go out there and have success is ultimately what we're what we're looking for."

In his absence, Wentz has offered a mixed bag, coming into Thursday's game with 1,072 passing yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. The Vikings were 2-2 in those starts and came into the matchup with the Chargers at 3-3 overall.

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A healthy McCarthy should find himself restored as the starter, and the Vikings will finally have the chance to properly evaluate if he can be the quarterback of the future.