JJ McCarthy Breaks Big Ten Records as Michigan’s Star QB Fuels Playoff Push

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy remains sidelined with the high-right–ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2, and head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed the first-round pick will be inactive again for Sunday’s Week 7 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles. O’Connell said McCarthy “is progressing, but not ready for full-speed game work,” noting that the medical staff wants to ensure lateral stability before clearing him for contact drills. Multiple team sources expect a realistic return window of Week 9–10, coinciding with the Vikings’ mini-bye that follows their Halloween Thursday-night game at Chicago. Carson Wentz will draw his third consecutive start, with veteran Nick Mullens elevated from the practice squad as the emergency No. 3. O’Connell emphasized that the organization is “playing the long game” with McCarthy: “Our investment is a decade, not a month.” Fantasy-football impact • Managers in two-QB and superflex leagues should stash McCarthy; his dual-threat upside (72 rushing yards, 2 TDs in two starts) still profiles as a season-long playoff asset. • Expect Wentz to continue peppering Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, but the offense loses designed QB-run looks without McCarthy. Depth-chart ripple effects 1. Offensive line tweaks: rookie LG Blake Fisher will take more zone-read reps in practice to prepare for McCarthy’s eventual return. 2. Red-zone play-calling: O’Connell admitted the team has “shelved” several RPO concepts until McCarthy is back at full health. Why the ankle matters High ankle sprains typically require 4–6 weeks for quarterbacks because the torsional stress of throwing and bootlegs aggravates the syndesmosis. McCarthy has been limited to pool work, resistance-band mobility drills, and scripted footwork progressions with quarterbacks coach Chris O’Hara. What’s next The Vikings travel to Detroit in Week 8 before the critical NFC North stretch versus the Bears and Packers. Team insiders believe the Nov 10 trip to Green Bay is circled as a tentative comeback date if McCarthy logs consecutive full practices the week prior. Bottom line The franchise’s future centerpiece is healing on schedule, but Minnesota will remain cautious. Until McCarthy’s trademark off-platform velocity and burst are fully restored, expect Wentz to steer the offense—and the quarterback controversy conversation—to at least mid-season.