The Minnesota Vikings are preparing for life without starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The second-year signal-caller suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
During Thursday night’s game between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport provided an update on McCarthy’s status. He reported that McCarthy will miss Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and could be sidelined longer.
“They fly to Dublin to face the Steelers the next week,” Rapoport said. “It’s hard to imagine, with the swelling going on, that they would take him on an overseas trip. Plan at least two weeks out for J.J. McCarthy."
In McCarthy’s absence, Minnesota will turn to veteran Carson Wentz. The Vikings also signed former Falcons third-round pick Desmond Ridder to serve as the backup.
This will mark the fifth different team Wentz has started for in the last five seasons.
“You know, it’s one of those things, you play long enough and you kind of forget about those things, because it’s just — it’s football, you bounce around teams,” Wentz said.
Still, Wentz is eager to make the most of his opportunity in Minnesota, the team he rooted for growing up.
“I used to come to the Metrodome, and I was waving the towel. … And so running out of that tunnel this week will probably hit me a little bit different — in a really cool, kind of surreal way,” Wentz said.
As for McCarthy, don’t expect him to give up the starting job easily. After missing all of last season with a meniscus injury, the former Michigan star was aiming for a rebound year in his first season as an NFL starter. His health, however, remains a major concern for Minnesota.
If two weeks is indeed the timeline for his return, McCarthy and the Vikings would face the Cleveland Browns at home on October 5.