The Minnesota Vikings received a major blow ahead of their Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been ruled out after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday night’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

The setback comes at a difficult time for the young quarterback, who just made his long-awaited NFL debut this season after missing his rookie year due to injury. Now, the Vikings will turn to a veteran signal caller under center.

What Happened To J.J. McCarthy?

McCarthy injured his ankle in the second half of the Vikings’ Week 2 loss to the Falcons. Though he stayed in the game and finished all four quarters, head coach Kevin O’Connell revealed on Monday that the injury was serious enough to keep him sidelined against Cincinnati. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport later reported that McCarthy suffered a high-ankle sprain and is considered week-to-week.

The timing is unfortunate. McCarthy was already under pressure after a rocky outing against Atlanta, where he completed just 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards and two interceptions. He was also sacked six times, adding to the punishment he endured before limping off the field.

Here’s the play where J.J. McCarthy injured his ankle. No great replays, but he does get rolled on the tackle. pic.twitter.com/JS8jN9q17P

— Seth Kaplan 📺 (@Seth_Kaplan) September 15, 2025

Despite not missing a snap against the Falcons, the injury has since worsened enough for Minnesota to shut him down, at least for Week 3. While the sprain is not expected to be season-ending, the Vikings want to be cautious with their young quarterback.

#Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell says QB J.J. McCarthy has an ankle sprain and is likely out this week. Carson Wentz would be the starter. pic.twitter.com/in7dcWBRc6

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2025

In McCarthy’s place, O’Connell confirmed that Carson Wentz will start against the Bengals. The veteran passer, signed late in the offseason, will now have an opportunity to stabilize the offense as Minnesota looks to move to 2-1.

McCarthy’s Performance So Far

McCarthy’s NFL career has been anything but smooth. After missing his entire rookie season with a knee injury, this year finally marked his official debut. And his first two games have been a mixed bag.

In Week 1 against the Bears, McCarthy delivered a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback, throwing two touchdown passes and adding a rushing score to help Minnesota steal a late win. That performance gave the Vikings hope that their young signal-caller could bring new life to the offense.

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But Week 2 was far more difficult. Facing a relentless Falcons pass rush, McCarthy looked overwhelmed at times, tossing two interceptions and struggling to find rhythm. His totals through two games stand at 301 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a league-high three interceptions, along with one rushing score.

The injury now pauses his development just as he was trying to settle into the league. For a quarterback who has played only two professional games due to injuries, every rep is valuable. Minnesota will hope McCarthy can recover quickly and return to action without missing too much time.

For now, the Vikings’ playoff hopes rest on Wentz’s shoulders while McCarthy rehabs and looks ahead to a healthier return.