Key facts
- McCarthy will not play Friday night against Denver due to ankle injury suffered Aug. 24 against Ravens
- Injury not considered long-term; McCarthy practiced in limited capacity Monday and Tuesday before Wednesday rest day
- Roster cutdown to 53 players due in two days; McCarthy’s status uncertain amid competition with Max Brosmer for backup role behind Kyler Murray
- McCarthy’s two preseason performances raised questions about consistency, accuracy, and durability
The injury and the game
J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings’ backup quarterback, will not play in Friday night’s preseason finale against the Denver Broncos. According to ESPN reporting, McCarthy sustained an ankle injury last Saturday in the game against the Baltimore Ravens. The injury is not considered long-term.
Practice participation and recovery status
McCarthy took part in scaled-down practice sessions on Monday and Tuesday following the injury. He did not practice on Wednesday, indicating the team is being cautious with his ankle ahead of the roster cutdown deadline.
The roster situation
The Vikings must reduce their roster to 53 players within two days of the preseason finale. With Kyler Murray established as the starter, the team faces a decision regarding its backup quarterback spot. McCarthy is competing with Max Brosmer for that position, and Carson Wentz also figures in the quarterback mix. The organization could keep McCarthy on the 53-man roster, place him on short-term injured reserve to keep him off the active roster while he recovers, waive him to the practice squad (though another team could claim him), trade him, or release him outright. According to NBC Sports reporting, his two preseason performances have not demonstrated significant improvement in the areas of durability, accuracy, and touch that were issues last season.
Sources
- NBC Sports
- Yahoo Sports — J.J. McCarthy to miss Broncos game, reportedly ‘not comfortable’ after injury · J.J. McCarthy injury update with QB set to miss Vikings' preseason finale
Featured photo: Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)