Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Aaron Jones are unlikely to play in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals due to injuries.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported McCarthy is expected to miss two to four weeks, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero noting the quarterback is considered week-to-week.
Of note, the Bengals will be without quarterback Joe Burrow, who suffered a turf toe injury on Sunday.
McCarthy has entered the 2025 season as the Vikings’ starting quarterback after sitting out the 2024 campaign due to a knee injury. Through two games, McCarthy has completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 301 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also lost one fumble.
Meanwhile, Jones has 46 rushing yards on 13 carries this season, adding 44 yards and one touchdown on three receptions.
This marks the latest injury concern for McCarthy, who underwent season-ending meniscus surgery last August, then a second procedure in November, after suffering the injury in his preseason debut.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that McCarthy would have “no limitations” from either of those surgeries heading into this spring’s offseason program.
The Vikings used the No. 10 pick of the 2024 draft to select McCarthy out of Michigan three months after he led the Wolverines to an undefeated season and the program’s first national title since 1997.
McCarthy ultimately spent the entirety of the 2024 season on the sideline while Sam Darnold started for the Vikings, an experience the former Michigan star has said helped him prepare to be an NFL starter.
He told reporters in May that joining the Vikings for rookie minicamp didn’t feel like his first day because he had been “going over the offense for a long time now.”
After Darnold and late-season practice-squad signing Daniel Jones walked in free agency, McCarthy was handed the starting role ahead of the 2025 season.
The Vikings traded Sam Howell to the Eagles before signing Carson Wentz as a potential backup in August. Wentz will be expected to start, and rookie undrafted free agent Max Brosmer will likely serve as backup, if McCarthy is sidelined for any length of time.
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