MN Vikings Get Best Injury News of Season

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Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings are on a bye this week, after completing a two-week swing through Europe. The business trip was far from perfect, and started off with an ugly loss in Dublin against Pittsburgh. But they brought home one victory, thanks to a gutty comeback win in London Sunday, over Cleveland.

Now back stateside, Vikings players will have some time over the week 6 bye to recover from their time abroad. It sounds like J.J. McCarthy will have Jordan Addison to keep him company at TCO Performance Center, while others get away for a little while over the break.

Starters returning to practice for Minnesota Vikings

On Monday, however, head coach Kevin O’Connell held a pre-bye press conference, where he brought some much needed good news on the Minnesota Vikings injury front. JJ McCarthy is indeed back to practicing, and he’s not the only one.

When the team returns to practice next week, off the bye, starting left guard Donovan Jackson and backup center Michael Jurgens will also be back on the practice field, as will inside linebacker Blake Cashman.

The Vikings had so many offensive linemen banged up against the Browns that once Christian Darrisaw took himself out in the fourth quarter, they were down to just one starter, right guard Will Fries. Hell, the starting center on Sunday, Blake Brandel, hadn’t snapped a ball since grade school.

Return timeline for JJ McCarthy remains in flux

It was initially suggested that J.J. McCarthy would return to practice last week, which was one of the reasons why he was brought along on the trip overseas. That didn’t happen, but it’s a positive development that O’Connell is so confident he’ll be ready one week from now.

O’Connell also confirmed what Jordan Addison reported after the game in London. McCarthy will be in the building during the bye, throwing to whoever hangs back with him. JJ has now missed three weeks, after suffering his high ankle injury week 2, in a loss vs Atlanta.

It’s great that O’Connell was able to step up to the podium without a depressing dump truck of negative injury news to share. If there has been one consistent trend this season for the Minnesota Vikings, it’s been their inability to stay healthy.

While Jurgens is only a backup, he brings desperately-needed depth on the interior OL, while Ryan Kelly sits on injured reserve with yet another concussion. Donovan Jackson is getting ready to return, after he missed two games, following surprise wrist surgery after week 3.

Blake Cashman has been out on defense since Week 1, and his presence in the middle of the defense has been sorely missed. Carson Wentz has gone 2-1 as JJ McCarthy’s fill-in. He missed one play at the end of the first half Sunday against the Browns, after he was ushered back the locker room with a shoulder injury.

Carson Wentz is someone to monitor for Minnesota

To add some pressure on McCarthy’s continued recovery, it sounds like there could be some lingering effects that Carson Wentz is dealing with. If Wentz isn’t healthy, it could make the return of Minnesota’s young starter even more important.

O’Connell notes that Wentz is still pretty sore in his shoulder, and how that progresses over the bye week could be huge. It’s no guarantee that McCarthy is ready to go, and the only other quarterback on the active roster is Max Brosmer.

Wentz has completed 69% of his passes for 759 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions this season. He hasn’t been perfect, but he has been more than effective when the line gives him time to operate.

No news on other injured Vikings isn’t ideal

Minnesota placed center Ryan Kelly on injured reserve prior to their game against the Browns. He will be out a minimum of four weeks with his second concussion of the season, so no update was expected there. However, a lack of update to Brian O’Neill, Andrew Van Giknel, and Ty Chandler is suboptimal.

O’Neill avoided something more serious with just an MCL sprain suffered against the Steelers. He didn’t go on injured reserve, but not being ready out of the bye would be unfortunate. It has been obvious that Justin Skule is a liability as a starter.

Brian O'Neill, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Van Ginkel has missed multiple games with a neck injury this season, and a recent report said that could be something substantial. O’Connell not noting him as a guy who should return to practice next week doesn’t calm those fears.

Finally, Chandler was injured during the first game of the season and placed on injured reserve with Blake Cashman. Despite being eligible to return, him not being noted as ready is unfortunate. Chandler had a key kick return to end, and secure the win, against the Bears. His ailment was noted afterwards, and apparently is serious.

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