The short week made it inevitable, but Carson Wentz got the start under center for the Minnesota Vikings against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. J.J. McCarthy dressed as the emergency third quarterback for the second straight week, and it seems likely he'll start in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions.
With how he looked for most of two games, skeptics haven't been able to let go of the idea that McCarthy's ankle injury is being used as an excuse for a "soft benching." Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has made it clear about what he needs to see from his young quarterback, and recovery from a high ankle sprain is not always a linear process.
Week 9 will be seven weeks out from the injury for McCarthy. A 4-6 week recovery timetable was out there, and that is pretty common for his injury, barring any setbacks.
NFL insider uses interesting word to describe Week 9 outlook for Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy
During Thursday's edition of the "Power Trip Morning Show" on KFXN-FM radio, co-host Cory Cove asked NFL Network's Tom Pelissero about the Vikings' quarterback situation, citing what O'Connell said about if it had been a Sunday game against the Chargers, McCarthy might've had a chance to start.
Cove mentioned how it may not matter how well Wentz plays, but does Pelissero expect McCarthy to play against the Detroit Lions in Week 9?
"Expect might be a strong word, but certainly all the indications are pointing towards J.J. McCarthy being available for that game against the Lions.
I think there are a bunch of different factors you have to take into account here. I know all the conspiracy theories and the soft benching, [but] the bottom line is this: the way to ruin a young quarterback is you put him on the field if he’s not healthy or he’s not prepared.
J.J. McCarthy, at this point, is neither. I don’t mean that pejoratively in terms of his preparedness. It’s the reality that he hasn’t had a full practice.
He hasn’t practiced on back-to-back days since before Week 1. The ankle is getting close. He’s clearly very close to being able to do it. They want to make sure he has all of the movements available to him.
Then the preparedness is going out and having a full week of practice. It wasn’t realistic to say, you know, after last week’s game, and they put him through a workout. At least they were considering it, but on a short week, you don’t even practice really.
You might have sort of a practice on Tuesday, but it’s not a full go type of practice… You can get him a full week of practice and put him on the field.”
Pelissero saying McCarthy should be "available" for the game against the Lions invites more skepticism from those who expect to hear a declaration he will start that game.
Pelissero ultimately landed on the obvious regarding the entire situation.
The Pelissero segment about McCarthy on KFAN can be summed up best by the final minute and a half: pic.twitter.com/mCXaGxxu7S
— Jason Harmon (@_jason_777) October 23, 2025
Pelissero noted how O'Connell is doing "the hard thing" by not pushing McCarthy back on the field before he's ready, amid all the speculation and debate about why he's not playing.
When the time is right, probably Week 9 against the Lions, barring something unforeseen, McCarthy will be the starter, and hopefully, he'll waste no time putting the weeks of skepticism, doubt, and debate to bed.