The Minnesota Vikings gained some newfound love for their 2024 first round pick, quarterback JJ McCarthy, after witnessing what some argue was the team’s worst offensive performance of all time in Week 13, with backup Max Brosmer at the helm.
McCarthy has struggled, without question, but he is also still recovering from the tail-end effects of the meniscus tear he suffered last pre-season, which ruled him out for the entirety of his rookie season. And he has, of course, just six professional starts under his belt.
Having suffered a concussion against the Packers in Week 12, and been subsequently ruled out for Week 13, there was optimism that McCarthy would return for Week 14’s game hosting the Washington Commanders in Minneapolis.
McCarthy practiced fully on both Wednesday and Thursday, and two days prior to kick-off, he is officially off the injury report and ready to go for the weekend.
Vikings Offensive Starting Pair Cleared For Week 14
“Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy (concussion) and RB Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder) are both off the injury report and good to go Sunday.” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote.
As Pelissero writes, running back Aaron Jones will also once again be present on the team.
There was initial concern at points over the course of the week that Jones would not be able to play on Sunday, having come out mid-way through Week 13’s drubbing against the Seahawks with a shoulder injury.
Indeed Jones was only limited in practice in both of the week’s practices – however like McCarthy – he is off the report and set to once again take up the role as lead back in the Vikings’ offense.
How Will This Impact The Vikings’ Offense?
The Vikings, lying at 4-8, need about as much help as they can get to salvage their season from the depths of mediocrity and failure.
Minnesota have never managed back-to-back playoff seasons since head coach, Kevin O’Connell arrived back in 2022, and this trend is looking like it will continue past 2025.
But McCarthy – despite his up-and-down play – is still a project that the Vikings are excited and have conviction about. And after seeing his #2 play last weekend, no one is clamoring for him to be benched anytime soon.
The Vikings’ run game is also in better shape for having Jones back, who had managed around 2/3 of offensive snaps in weeks 10-12 before being having to exit week 13 earlier than expected – not that it made a vast amount of difference to the eventual result.
What’s more, the Commanders will once again be lead by star quarterback, Jayden Daniels, who has missed the past four games with an elbow injury – and a total of seven on the year.
So the need to be able to keep up with Washington’s presumed improved offense, which did well against a very strong Broncos defense last Sundya night, will be all the more prescient.
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