J.J. McCarthy to miss 2–4 weeks with high ankle sprain; Carson Wentz to start for Vikings
Minnesota also likely to be without Aaron Jones as backups prepare for Sunday’s matchup against quarterback-replacement Jake Browning and the Bengals
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is expected to miss two to four weeks with a high ankle sprain, coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday, forcing the team to turn to veteran backup Carson Wentz for Sunday’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The injury was first reported by ESPN. O’Connell, who earlier indicated McCarthy was likely to be unavailable for Week 3, described the news as "pretty crushing" for the organization and said McCarthy’s absence is a medical matter and not a reflection of his play.
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Carson Wentz is slated to start while the Vikings weigh their options for McCarthy’s backup plan during the coming weeks. O’Connell also said running back Aaron Jones is likely to be unavailable Sunday because of a hamstring issue, compounding offensive concerns for Minnesota.
"We’re definitely dealing with some adversity right now, for sure," O’Connell said. He added that McCarthy "is in a long process, a long journey right now where there’s gonna be some ups and downs," and emphasized the team must limit mistakes that occur outside the quarterback’s control.
McCarthy, 22, was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and missed his entire rookie season after surgery for a torn meniscus. He produced a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback in his first career start in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, but struggled in Sunday night’s 22-6 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons. In that game he completed 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards, threw two interceptions, fumbled three times (losing one) and was sacked six times.
Cincinnati will also be operating without its franchise starter. The Bengals lost Joe Burrow for approximately three months after he was scheduled for surgery to address turf toe, and Jake Browning has been named their starter for the immediate future. The matchup on Sunday has therefore become a contest between backups at the position for both clubs.
O’Connell declined to link McCarthy’s expected absence to his on-field performance, calling the injury news "crushing" and stressing the organization’s commitment to McCarthy’s development. He noted that the team must provide more consistency around the quarterback and reduce isolated errors that can derail drives.
The Vikings face lineup decisions beyond quarterback and running back as coaches adjust the roster to compensate for injuries. The club will announce final injury reports and the active roster ahead of the team’s Week 3 kickoff.
The setback adds to a season-opening stretch that already required Minnesota to navigate early adversity. How the offense responds with Wentz at the controls and without Jones in the backfield will be a focal point for the Vikings as they attempt to stabilize their offense and protect a young signal-caller during his recovery period.