NewYou can listen to Fox News articles now!
Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy Missed the entire rookie season due to injury, and after just two games in 2025, he expects to miss more time.
McCarthy is expected to be eliminated for two to four weeks due to a senior sprain that lost to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday night. Go to ESPN.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday morning that McCarthy was “very sore” after the injury and that he could be missing in the third week against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are dealing with their own quarterback issues as Joe Burrow may miss most of the regular season as surgery is required to recover from Sunday’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Click here for more sports reports on FoxNews.com
JJ McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings warmed up against the Atlanta Falcons before the Bank of America Stadium game in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 14, 2025. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
“We don’t plan to have [McCarthy] On Sunday, O’Connell told reporters. “I don’t think there is any short-term IR thing about this, but I do want to see how he responds to treatment this week.”
McCarthy was fired six times in the Vikings’ home opener Sunday night, and he was fired three times after being defeated by a victory in the Chicago Bears in his NFL debut. But McCarthy didn’t have any fourth quarter magic this time, as he made two interceptions and had a tough performance without a touchdown, which was more than just a loss.
McCarthy missed the entire 2024 season after being drafted by the Vikings in the first round, and he expects many to start as rookie seasons. He tore the bend early in training camp, which gave O’Connell the offensive key, and Sam Darnold led Minnesota to a 14-3 record. Darnold is now starting his season 1-1 Seattle Seahawks.
Minnesota Vikings’ JJ McCarthy #9 reacted to the Chicago Bears on September 8, 2025 in Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
McCarthy, despite his return in Chicago in the fourth quarter, wasn’t the most effective quarterback in his first two NFL starts. His QBR is 20.4, ranking 32nd among the 33 qualified quarterbacks in the league starting the 2025 season. He completed 24 of 24 of 41 passes for 41 yards and had two touchdowns and three interceptions in two games.
With McCarthy’s situation, O’Connell will hand the ins ropes to Carson Wentz, the 32-year-old has played alternate roles for the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs over the past two seasons.
JJ McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings after the end of his game against the Indianapolis Colts at Bank of America Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 3, 2024. (David Berding/Getty Images)
Click here to get the Fox News app
Vikings Also dealing with injury news about a veteran who ran back to Aaron Jones Sr., who suffered a hamstring injury and ended the game prematurely.
Follow Fox News Numbers Motion Report on Xand subscribe Fox News Sports Grocery Newsletter.
