LOS ANGELES — The Minnesota Vikings look like clearing the best way for J.J. McCarthy to return as their beginning quarterback subsequent week after a six-week restoration from a excessive proper ankle sprain.
McCarthy has served because the Vikings’ emergency third quarterback for 2 consecutive video games, together with Thursday night time’s 37-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Afterward, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell reaffirmed his dedication to getting McCarthy again on the sector as quickly as potential.
“If J.J. is wholesome, J.J. will play,” O’Connell mentioned. “That is been the case for the reason that damage. That is all the time been sort of my mindset, and I imagine we’re proper — hopefully — across the nook from seeing him be wholesome, have per week of preparation and go compete.”
McCarthy began the Vikings’ first two video games of the season however reported vital soreness in his proper ankle the morning after a 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 14. O’Connell initially labeled McCarthy’s standing as “week-to-week,” and McCarthy later mentioned he obtained a timetable of as much as six weeks for a full restoration. The Vikings put him via a exercise Tuesday at their follow facility to see if enjoying in opposition to the Chargers was an possibility, however O’Connell mentioned: “J.J. and the medical employees did not fairly really feel like he was there but.”
With a “mini-bye” this weekend, after which an additional follow scheduled for Monday, the Vikings will give McCarthy a full runway to transition again to the beginning position in time for his or her Nov. 2 recreation on the Detroit Lions.
Backup Carson Wentz has began 5 video games in McCarthy’s place, compiling a 2-3 file, however has been enjoying with a big left shoulder damage that had him in apparent misery Thursday night time. He mentioned it “fairly presumably” was probably the most ache he has been in throughout a soccer recreation, and attributed it largely to his shortened restoration time due to a Thursday night time recreation.
The Vikings’ medical employees fitted him with a shoulder harness and several other different protecting wraps, which Wentz mentioned he had by no means worn “something remotely near” as a way to play. He completed 15-of-27 for 144 yards with 1 landing and 1 interception. He took 5 sacks and was hit eight occasions. After taking a success on a fourth-down incompletion within the fourth quarter, Wentz threw his helmet on the bench — for which he later apologized to the group’s tools employees — and lined his face with a towel.
“The ache is ache,” Wentz mentioned. “I felt like I may nonetheless assist this group and discover a approach to go down and rating and all that stuff. So we knew that coming into the sport, that it was going to be a part of it. And once more, that is the robust a part of Thursday night time video games. [You] simply do not fairly get the possibility to get well, however that is no excuse by any means.”
O’Connell mentioned he was in fixed dialog with Wentz and the group’s medical employees however by no means thought he wanted to interchange him till the sport was out of attain. With McCarthy designated the emergency quarterback, the primary accessible possibility by rule would have been undrafted rookie Max Brosmer.
Brosmer did not enter the sport till 1 minute, 56 seconds remained.
“Carson’s a veteran participant,” O’Connell mentioned, “and he understands a few of our circumstances tonight. I believe it’s totally tough to ask a rookie to go in there for his first efficiency and should be weathering it a bit of bit for the group.”