J.J. McCarthy injury update: Expected return date for Minnesota Vikings QB revealed

The Minnesota Vikings will be deploying quarterback Carson Wentz under center for the Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, as fellow signal-caller J.J. McCarthy is sidelined due to injury.

McCarthy suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 2 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The second-year quarterback did not practice at all during the week and was officially ruled out on Friday.

McCarthy managed to avoid a trip to injured reserve, but when exactly can we expect him to return to the field?

Here's the latest injury update on the Vikings quarterback.

J.J. McCarthy's expected return date

According to CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson, McCarthy is going to be traveling with the team overseas for its next two games after Week 3, with the goal of returning to the field for the Week 7 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Wolfson also leaves the door open for McCarthy to be back sooner than that "if he feels good."

"JJ McCarthy (high ankle sprain) didn’t go on IR bc he would’ve had to miss 4 games. He will be in Europe with the team the next two weeks and rehab there. Expectation is he gets the bye week after to recover and then returns vs Eagles. Timeline can be moved up if he feels good though," Wolfson reported.

Of course, the Vikings enjoy a bye in Week 6, which gives McCarthy an extra week to get right without having to miss another game.

Outside of a historic fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears in Week 1, it has been tough sledding for the Michigan product over the first two games.

McCarthy is completing just 58.5% of his passes for 301 yards and two passing scores to three interceptions. He also has 50 yards and one score on the ground.

The slow start shouldn't be all that shocking, as this is basically McCarthy's rookie season after he didn't play at all in 2024 because of a knee injury.

However, with the Vikings looking to compete for big things in 2025 after a 14-win season in 2024, Minnesota needs him to figure things out quickly.

MORE NFL NEWS

• Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens combine for $55K worth of fines
• Pittsburgh Steelers roster move spells big trouble for Kaleb Johnson
• Marcus Davenport injury update from Dan Campbell is good news for Lions
• ESPN insider: Two Miami Dolphins starters could get traded at deadline
• New York Giants could trade these two starters, per ESPN insider
• ESPN insider: Raiders could unload $33 million playmaker at trade deadline