Correction: Vikings' J.J. McCarthy Has an Ankle Sprain, Not a Season-Ending Injury
An earlier version of this story reported that McCarthy had torn his meniscus and would miss the season. That was wrong. Coach Kevin O'Connell described the injury as a mild deltoid sprain in his ankle, and McCarthy has since returned to full practice.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is dealing with a mild ankle sprain suffered in the preseason loss to Baltimore, not a torn meniscus as this story originally reported. Touchdown Week regrets the error. McCarthy was a full participant in practice in early September and, according to general manager Nolan Teasley, will be on the roster for Week 1.
What actually happened?
McCarthy took several hits in Minnesota's 13-3 loss to the Ravens before coach Kevin O'Connell pulled him. O'Connell later described the injury as a mild deltoid sprain in his ankle and said the team wanted to give him a few light practice days to put the ankle behind him. There was never a meniscus diagnosis or a season-ending designation.
Where does the QB room stand now?
Kyler Murray is the starter after winning the camp competition. McCarthy returned to full practice in the first week of September, and Teasley declined to say whether McCarthy or Carson Wentz would be the No. 2 for Week 1 against Green Bay. Teasley also acknowledged the team gets trade calls about McCarthy, as it does about other players.
Why was the original story wrong?
The initial report drew on a summary of ESPN's Vikings camp coverage that misstated the injury. The underlying ESPN reporting only ever described an ankle sprain. The article has been rewritten, and the preseason finale preview that repeated the error has been corrected.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: 2026 Minnesota Vikings training camp: Latest intel, updates
- NBC Sports: Vikings GM Nolan Teasley says J.J. McCarthy will be on the Week 1 roster
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