Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is back from the ankle injury that has sidelined him for most of this season, and he’s looking good in Detroit.
McCarthy has thrown two touchdown passes as the Vikings took a 17-14 lead over the Lions at halftime.
Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson each caught a touchdown from McCarthy and the Vikings also got a 50-yard field goal from Will Reichard.
The Vikings’ pass rush has been relentless at getting to Lions quarterback Jared Goff, and that has caused the Lions’ offense to stall at times. If McCarthy and the Vikings’ defense can play this way for another 30 minutes, an upset could be coming in Detroit.
Lions coach Dan Campbell is the best in the business at knowing when to go for it on fourth down, and he did it again on the opening drive today.
With the Lions facing fourth-and-4 at the Vikings’ 40-yard line on the first drive of the game, Campbell kept his offense on the field. The result was Jared Goff hitting Sam LaPorta for a 40-yard touchdown.
LaPorta was great on the opening possession, catching all three passes thrown to him for 66 yards. Campbell praised LaPorta this week for growing as a blocker, but so far today it’s been his work as a receiver that’s moving the Lions’ offense down the field.
But the Lions’ 7-0 lead didn’t last long: Myles Price returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards for the Vikings, and with a short field the Vikings had a short drive that ended with J.J. McCarthy hitting Justin Jefferson for a 10-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7-7.
Word on Saturday was that Joe Flacco was on track to start at quarterback for the Bengals in Sunday’s home game against the Bears and official word of his status came on Sunday morning.
Flacco is active despite the right shoulder injury that caused him to miss Wednesday’s practice and limited him the rest of the week. Flacco was hurt on a sack in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Jets, but he did not miss any offensive plays.
The Bengals will be without defensive end Trey Hendrickson for the second time in three games. Hendrickson is inactive after being listed as doubtful to play due to a hip injury.
Bears at Bengals
Bears: RB D’Andre Swift, QB Case Keenum, LB Ruben Hyppolite, WR Luther Burden, RB Roschon Johnson, DL Dominique Robinson
Bengals: CB Marco Wilson, LB Logan Wilson, OL Dalton Risner, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DE Trey Hendrickson, QB Sean Clifford
Falcons at Patriots
Falcons: CB Billy Bowman, RB Nathan Carter, OL Michael Jerrell, WR Casey Washington, DL Ta’Quon Graham, DL Zach Harrison
Patriots: LB Caleb Murphy, DT Eric Gregory, G Caedan Wallace, S John Saunders, QB Tommy DeVito, RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Chargers at Titans
Chargers: S Tony Jefferson, CB Tarheeb Still, LB Kyle Kennard, G Mekhi Becton, T Austin Deculus, TE Will Dissly
Titans: WR Calvin Ridley, DT Jeffery Simmons, LB Arden Key, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, WR Bryce Oliver, S Xavier Woods, OL Drew Moss
Colts at Steelers
Colts: DE Samson Ekubam, RB DJ Giddens, WR Anthony Gould, DE Tyquan Lewis, S Reuben Lowery, TE Will Mallory, T Luke Tenuta
Steelers: WR Scotty Miller, S Chuck Clark, LB Cole Holcomb, S Jabrill Peppers, OL Andrus Peat, DL Logan Lee
49ers at Giants
49ers: QB Brock Purdy, RB Jordan James, WR Ricky Pearsall, C Jake Brendel, DE Bryce Huff, DL CJ West, S Marques Sigle
Giants: S Jevón Holland, CB Paulson Adebo, CB Cor’Dale Flott, DL Chauncey Golston, T Jermaine Eluemunor, TE Daniel Bellinger, QB Jameis Winston
Broncos at Texans
Broncos: CB Pat Surtain, TE Nate Adkins, WR Marvin Mims, S P.J. Locke, DL Sai’vion Jones, DL Jordan Jackson, RB Jaleel McLaughlin
Texans: QB Graham Mertz, RB Dameon Pierce, T Jarrett Kingston, T Trent Brown, DE Dylan Horton
Vikings at Lions
Vikings: FB CJ Ham, T Walter Rouse, TE Josh Oliver, TE Ben Sims, DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, LB Austin Keys, CB Jeff Okudah
Lions: RB Craig Reynolds, DT Quinton Jefferson, DT Mekhi Wingo, S Erick Hallett, S Kerby Joseph, S Jammie Robinson
Panthers at Packers
Panthers: LB Princely Umanmielen, WR Hunter Renfrow, QB Mike White, C Cade Mays, TE James Mitchell, DT Cam Jackson
Packers: WR Dontayvion Wicks, K Lucas Havrisik, OL Jacob Monk, OL Donovan Jennings, DL Lukas Van Ness, DL Warren Brinson
Lions fans who show up for Sunday’s home game against the Vikings may be feeling a little conflicted.
The visiting team’s quarterback is the former quarterback of the other home team. The one that won a National Championship two years ago. The one that, in the last time McCarthy played a football game in Michigan, saw the Wolverines beat their mortal enemies from Ohio, 30-24.
That day, McCarthy completed 16 of 20 passes for 148 yards. In his only regular-season NFL victory since then, McCarthy completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards in a Week 1 thriller at Chicago.
Six days later, McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain in a Sunday night loss to the Falcons. He hasn’t played since. He’s back for Sunday’s game, and the stakes are fairly high for McCarthy.
Above all else, he needs to stay healthy. While injuries are, at times, a matter of luck, quarterbacks need to know how to avoid hits. It’s a skill. For those who have it, it’s never noticed. For those who don’t, it becomes obvious.
Beyond avoiding another injury, McCarthy needs to avoid another disaster. He can’t play like he did during the first three quarters of the Bears game; if he does, the Lions won’t let the Vikings hang around long enough to stage a late comeback.
Hovering over the situation is the short- and long-term future of the quarterback position in Minnesota. They let Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones leave in free agency. This year, their teams are a combined 12-3. They said “no, thanks” to Aaron Rodgers, who has held up his end of the bargain in Pittsburgh (even if the defense has not).
A disaster on Sunday would have ramifications. A multi-week injury could prompt the Vikings to break glass on the Kirk Cousins option for the rest of the season. A poor outing could prompt the front office to scour all options at the quarterback position for 2026. At some point this year, they may decide to see what undrafted rookie Max Brosmer can do.
So, yes, there’s a lot riding on this one. Win in Michigan, and multiple questions will be answered positively for McCarthy. Lose, and those questions could prompt an immediate search for answers elsewhere.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is returning today, and he should have both his offensive tackles protecting him.
Although Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw and right tackle Brian O’Neill are both listed as questionable with knee injuries, both are expected to play, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
McCarthy has been out since Week Two with an ankle injury, and when he was playing he was getting sacked far too much, taking nine sacks while throwing just 41 passes. That’s a problem with McCarthy’s ability to see the pass rush, but it’s a problem that will be easier to solve with a healthy offensive line in front of him.
The 3-4 Vikings are 8.5-point underdogs at 5-2 Detroit today.
