J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings’ starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, has undergone the same, life-altering challenge. He re-aggravated a high right ankle sprain in a September 14 game against the Atlanta Falcons. After initially starting the first two games of the season, McCarthy reported significant soreness in his right ankle the morning after the Vikings’ 22-6 defeat. His coach, Kevin O’Connell, termed McCarthy’s status as “week-to-week,” meaning that it’s unclear when he next will be able to take the field.
Unfortunately, the severity of McCarthy’s injury meant a prognosis of about six weeks before he would be fully recovered. Though these obstacles would be enough to sideline most players, he’s been active as the Vikings’ emergency third QB in each of the last two contests. For now, O’Connell is cautiously optimistic when it comes to McCarthy’s health, adding, “If J.J. is healthy, J.J. will play.”
As the team heads into their own “mini-bye” weekend, they have added an additional practice for Monday. This new clock provides a huge opportunity for McCarthy. This way, he can easily slide back into his starting spot in time for the all-important rematch with the Detroit Lions on November 2.
Whatever the Vikings’ offensive line’s reluctance to adapt, it has definitely made life more difficult for Carson Wentz, a four-time Pro Bowler under center. He’s been a constant, ever-evolving dialogue with the medical team about how he gets on with his own body and makes sure he is avoiding injuries. Wentz expressed the unique difficulties posed by Thursday night games, highlighting how limited recovery time can impact players’ health and performance.
“I felt like I could still help this team and find a way to go down and score and all that stuff. So we knew that coming into the game, that it was going to be part of it. And again, that’s the tough part of Thursday night games. [You] just don’t quite get the chance to recover, but that’s no excuse by any means.” – Carson Wentz
As McCarthy progresses in his recovery, O’Connell has emphasized the importance of taking the necessary steps to ensure that he is fully fit before returning to the starting lineup. The team’s approach seems to be aimed at giving McCarthy enough time to heal and to regain his strength.
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