Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy unlikely to play in Week 3 vs. Bengals due to high ankle sprain

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Two games into Year 2, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is banged up again.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Monday that McCarthy came in sore following Sunday night’s 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons with an ankle sprain and is unlikely to play in Week 3’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 21.

NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero specified that McCarthy’s injury is a high ankle sprain, and the QB is considered week to week.

Veteran Carson Wentz is in line to make the start for Minnesota against Cincy with McCarthy not expected to be available.

O’Connell added on Monday that McCarthy’s absence would be based “purely” on the ankle injury, not his performance.

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Wentz is with his sixth NFL team. He started one game last year as Patrick Mahomes‘ backup in Kansas City (a 38-0 loss to Denver in Week 18). The 2016 No. 2 overall draft pick has started at least one game in each of his nine NFL seasons. Assuming he starts Sunday, he’ll make it 10 for 10.

McCarthy has struggled for much of his first two outings this season. After a brutal first half in Week 1 in Chicago, the 2024 first-round pick turned things around, spearheading a comeback. In Week 2, McCarthy was once again rattled, completing 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards while taking six sacks and throwing two interceptions for a 37.5 passer rating.

The Falcons’ pass rush was particular brutal for McCarthy as Atlanta logged six sacks and 23 pressures.

The Michigan product has played about 1.5 good quarters out of eight this year after missing his entire first season due to a preseason knee injury.

O’Connell told reporters on Monday that he doesn’t think McCarthy’s ankle injury would require a trip to injured reserve, which would knock him out for at least four weeks. However, the club doesn’t have a firm timetable for his potential absence.

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