Return of J.J. McCarthy remains unknown, but confirmation of Kevin O’Connell’s words ease any doubt for one key reason
Even though it’s frustrating, it’s not something to be concerned about right now.
The bye week couldn’t come at a better time for the Minnesota Vikings, as they are decimated by injuries. Of those injuries, the biggest is with quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy is now set to miss his third game after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter of their 22-6 Week 2 loss. It’s been tough for everyone not to have McCarthy on the field, especially for him after missing his entire rookie season with a torn Meniscus.
J.J. McCarthy’s return continues to be a mystery
One thing that continues to be asked is simple: when McCarthy will return? The initial goal was to have him practice this week in London, but head coach Kevin O’Connell chose to hold him out due to the weather on Friday.
“Yeah, he got through pretty well,” said O’Connell. “Obviously, with the weather today, my hope was to try to get him some working individual, but with the weather and the tight field space we’re working on a 100 yard field, we wanted to be smart with that. Very much looking forward to spending some time with him next week and then see where he’s at coming out of the bye.”
It makes sense to hold him out with the constraints that practicing overseas in London, as TCO Performance Center has four 100 yard fields they practice on, giving plenty of space to work on the side. It’s considerably harder when you have a condensed space.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini released her weekly “What I’m Hearing” column and expressed two key points about McCarthy: He’s not healthy and it’s not a quiet benching.
“Quarterback Carson Wentz will start again for the Vikings on Sunday in London against the Cleveland Browns, with J.J. McCarthy still sidelined by a high ankle sprain. The medical staff projected a four-to-six week recovery, and coach Kevin O’Connell has been clear that McCarthy won’t play until he’s had a full week of practice. To this point, he hasn’t returned in any capacity, not even on a limited basis.”
“I’ve been told by multiple sources that McCarthy isn’t healthy, and while the target return has been Week 7 against the Eagles, it could still be longer.
“I’m told, ‘nothing to see here.’”
This entire situation has been frustrating, but one thing is certain: O’Connell’s comments about wanting McCarthy to have a full week of practice was always about getting him prepared, and not about a quiet benching that many talked about happening.
Hopefully, McCarthy is ready to go soon after the bye, but don’t be surprised if it takes a little longer. By then, the offensive line should be ready to go.
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