Minnesota’s bye week ended with the return of quarterback JJ McCarthy on Monday.
McCarthy practiced for the first time since being diagnosed with a sprained ankle during the Vikings’ Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said it was too early to say whether McCarthy would also be back in the starting lineup this week against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Carson Wentz, originally drafted by the Eagles, joined Minnesota after training camp and was forced into a starting role in Week 3. He guided the Vikings to a comeback victory in London before the bye, but was nursing a sore left shoulder before the bye week.
“I think this week will be huge for our whole team, but just to see JJ get back out there, get some reps and work on the process of rebuilding those foundations — we started really well last week,” O’Connell said while declining to estimate a health percentage for the 22-year-old.
Linebacker Blake Cashman, out since Week 1, began his 21-day return window from injured reserve on Monday.
McCarthy had a 2-4 week recovery time when he was injured. He missed his entire rookie season while recovering from knee surgery.
In two games this season, McCarthy has completed 58.5 percent of his passes (24 of 41) for 301 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. The Vikings’ 2024 first-round pick (10th overall) tore the meniscus in his right knee during his first preseason game as a rookie.
Wentz, 32, took the Eagles’ starting job straight from North Dakota State in 2016 as the second overall pick. He spent five seasons as a starter for the Eagles before joining Indianapolis (2021), Washington (2022), the Los Angeles Rams (2023) and the Chiefs (2024).
He is 49-47-1 in his 97 career starts with a 62.9% completion rate, 23,169 passing yards, 158 touchdowns, 69 interceptions and an 89.6 passer efficiency rating.
Cashman was injured in Chicago in the regular season opener and replaced by Eric Wilson, who has 35 tackles, two tackles for loss and two forced fumbles this season.
“We’ve seen since we’ve had Blake, when he’s out there, and we’re playing the type of defense that we’re used to seeing, Blake has a lot to do with that,” O’Connell said Monday.
Cashman started 14 games for the Vikings and recorded a team-high 112 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 QB hits, eight tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and eight passes defensed.
–Field level media
