NFL Insider Drops Shocking Update on J.J. McCarthy That Could Change Everything

So here we are, Minnesota Vikings fans, holding our breath once again as J.J. McCarthy—who was supposed to be the shining beacon of hope at quarterback—still finds himself sidelined with that pesky ankle injury. Now, wasn’t this supposed to be his breakout season? Instead, it’s Carson Wentz stealing the spotlight, though not exactly the kind of show anyone had RSVP’d for. Watching McCarthy struggle to find his footing after a brutal rookie year makes you wonder: can the Wolverines’ prodigy ever shake off these setbacks, or are the Vikings trapped in an endless game of quarterback roulette? With a talent-packed roster seemingly built for a Super Bowl run, the last thing Minnesota needed was this quarterback conundrum dragging them down. It’s enough to make you question whether GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s moves—or missed opportunities—are starting to haunt the franchise more than anyone expected. Yup, things in the Twin Cities feel murkier than a foggy Minneapolis morning these days.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 21: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on after the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. — (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings hoped that J.J. McCarthy would lead the way for them this season.

Instead, it’s been the Carson Wentz show, which is clearly not what they intended.

McCarthy has barely played because of an ankle injury.

And according to the latest reports, he might still not be close to a return:

“The Vikings’ QB situation is murky to say the least. J.J. McCarthy got good work during the bye week. He should be able to return to practice this week, but McCarthy is still not 100% on that ankle,” Pelissero said.

The #Vikings QB situation is “murky to say the least,” per @TomPelissero. JJ McCarthy got “good work” in during the bye week and should return to practice this week, but his ankle still isn’t 100%. KOC has mentioned how he won’t throw JJ out there unless he’s 100%.

Carson Wentz… pic.twitter.com/KzbtBuNZXQ

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) October 12, 2025

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has made it loud and clear that the former No. 1 pick won’t get back on the field to play unless he gets a full week of practice.

The team must be extremely worried about their quarterback situation, as he missed his entire rookie season due to a gruesome knee injury and is now missing more time with an ankle ailment.

McCarthy didn’t look good in his first taste of NFL action, and while the talent and physical traits are pretty evident, and everybody has raved about his work ethic, he hasn’t played a lot of football, dating back to college.

The Vikings have a stacked roster that should strive to compete for a Super Bowl every year, and they might not be able to afford waiting for the Michigan product to develop.

Needless to say, Wentz isn’t a solution at the position either, but given the way things have shaped up, it’s worth wondering whether GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has any regrets about letting Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones go or for not signing Aaron Rodgers when he could.

Whatever the case, the current picture in the Twin Cities is far from promising.

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