JJ McCarthy injury update: Vikings star's return timeline revealed as Carson Wentz takes QB duties

Vikings QB JJ McCarthy will miss 2–4 weeks with an ankle injury. Carson Wentz takes over, with McCarthy likely back by Oct. 24 vs. Chargers.

Updated on: Sep 16, 2025, 09:51:06 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Minnesota Vikings' woes continued after the crushing defeat in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. It was revealed on Monday that Vikings' star quarterback, JJ McCarthy, suffered an ankle sore at Sunday's game and his expected to miss time.

J.J. McCarthy and Adam Thielen of the Minnesota Vikings. (Getty Images via AFP)

With JJ McCarthy out, backup QB Carson Wentz is expected to take up QB duties for Minnesota for the next three weeks. After the news about McCarthy's injury broke, it was revealed by ESPN Insider Adam Schefter that McCarthy is expected to miss two to four weeks of the NFL season owing to the injury.

When will JJ McCarthy be back?

As per Adam Schefter, JJ McCarthy is out for two to four weeks, which means he is expected to miss Vikings Week 3 and Week 4 games against the Cincinnati Bengals (September 12) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (September 28), respectively.

Also read: New dad McCarthy back at practice with Vikings, while Darrisaw ruled out as knee recovery continues

He could also miss the next two games, Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns (October 5) and Week 6 against the Super Bowl champions, Philadelphia Eagles (October 19).

But the good news is, he is expected to certainly be back for the game against the Los Angeles Chargers on October 24. But that is still subject to the speed of his recovery.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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