It doesn’t sound like the Minnesota Vikings are going to get J.J. McCarthy back in the starting lineup before the team returns stateside.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke with reporters on Wednesday, October 1, and while he was happy to deliver news that the second-year quarterback is slowly working his way back into portions of his pre-injury routine, O’Connell also indicated with relative clarity that McCarthy won’t be ready to go against the Cleveland Browns in London come Sunday.
“[McCarthy] is working his way back and is entering the next phase of his rehab where he can get a little more active. Looking forward to getting him back on the field practicing with the team as soon as we can,” O’Connell said. “But at the same time, we want to be smart and let that high ankle fully heal, and then he can really start attacking it.”
Carson Wentz Playing Well Enough to Spark Trade Rumors
GettyQuarterback Carson Wentz of the Minnesota Vikings.
That means at least one more week of Carson Wentz for Minnesota before a bye upon the team’s return to the United States.
Wentz is 1-1 in two starts for the Vikings (2-2) this season. He has completed 66.7 percent of his pass attempts for 523 yards, four TDs and 2 INTs.
Due to his competence in the face of heavy pressure, which is occurring in large part because of injuries to Minnesota’s offensive line, Wentz may find himself the subject of trade inquiries ahead of the NFL’s November 4 deadline.
Dan Graziano of ESPN wrote on Wednesday that he believes at least one quarterback will move in the next five weeks and named Wentz before anyone else.
“It could be someone such as Carson Wentz or Kenny Pickett,” Graziano said. “Anything is possible.”
Vikings Likely to Keep JJ McCarthy, Carson Wentz in Top 2 QB Spots for Full Season
GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy (left) and Carson Wentz (right).
Considering how Wentz has played through two games, if the Vikings can walk out of England with a win this weekend it is difficult to imagine the team deciding to part with the veteran signal-caller.
Even if McCarthy is healthy enough to return to the lineup against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 19, Minnesota needs to keep a viable option behind him on the roster. McCarthy missed the entirety of his rookie campaign with a knee injury and has now missed half of the first month of his second year with the ankle sprain.
Beyond that, McCarthy was mostly bad through his first two starts, save for a spectacular fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Solider Field in Week 1, during which McCarthy accounted for three touchdowns (two through the air and one on the ground) and led Minnesota to an 11-point comeback win.
It remains possible that the Vikings could go to Wentz by choice at some point later in the season, particularly if he shows he can handle the high-level Browns defense, which is led by a ferocious front four that has applied consistent pressure to opposing quarterbacks all season long.
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