Quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s return to the Vikings lineup on Sunday couldn’t have gone much better.
The Vikings took the opening kickoff and easily moved through the Commanders defense before McCarthy threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Josh Oliver. McCarthy would throw two more touchdowns while going 16-of-23 for 163 yards in a 31-0 win.
It’s likely too little and too late to help the team’s playoff chances, but McCarthy said it was a “step in the right direction” during a season that has featured multiple injuries and underwhelming play for the 2024 first-round pick.
“It’s definitely reassuring,” McCarthy said in his postgame press conference. “I always knew I had that and I always knew the potential is there, but I’m looking at it right now and there’s so many ways I could get better. I’m so far from where I want to be, so it’s just great to get the win and grow in this game.”
The next step for McCarthy and the Vikings will be to stack a string of performances like Sunday together to close out the year. If they can do that, they will be able to head into the offseason with some positive momentum to balance out all that went wrong over the first 12 weeks of the season.
Vikings Clips
Commanders tight end Zach Ertz was emotional as he left the sideline on a cart in Sunday’s 31-0 loss to the Vikings.
Vikings safety Jay Ward lowered his helmet and hit Ertz’s right knee as Ertz stretched for a high throw with 2:05 left in the third quarter. The team’s medical staff placed Ertz in a full leg brace.
The Commanders quickly ruled him out.
Coach Dan Quinn said after the game that “the early signals aren’t good” when asked about a torn ACL.
Ertz will undergo an MRI on his injury on Monday to confirm the bad news.
He had one catch for 11 yards on Sunday and likely will finish his season with 50 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels did not return after aggravating his left elbow injury in the third quarter Sunday.
Coach Dan Quinn said after the 31-0 loss to the Vikings that Daniels could have returned, but it was a coach’s decision to keep him out. The Commanders trailed only 14-0 when Daniels’ elbow slammed against the turf as he was chasing Andrew Van Ginkel, who had a 40-yard interception return with 8:16 left in the third quarter.
Quinn added that he plans for Daniels to continue playing this season despite the Commanders being eliminated from playoff contention.
Daniels dislocated his left elbow while bracing a fall during a sack in Week 9. He missed three games before returning to start Sunday’s game.
Daniels went 9-of-20 for 78 yards and an interception and ran for 16 yards on four carries.
Marcus Mariota finished the game.
The Vikings scored only 42 points in their four-game losing streak, including a 26-0 blanking by the Seahawks last week when rookie quarterback Max Bosmer made his first NFL start. With J.J. McCarthy back, the Vikings scored 31 on Sunday in a shutout of the Commanders.
Minnesota improves to 5-8, while the Commanders fall to 3-10 and was eliminated from playoff contention. The Commanders’ first shutout loss since 2019 extended their losing streak to eight games, the team’s longest since 2023.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels did not make it through his first game back from a dislocated left elbow. He reinjured his elbow following an interception with 8:16 left in the third quarter.
Vikings defensive back Isaiah Rodgers blocked the Daniels on a return by Andrew Van Ginkel, sending Daniels flying. Daniels landed on his left elbow.
Daniels went 9-of-20 for 78 yards and an interception and ran for 16 yards on four carries.
It was that kind of day for Washington.
The Vikings outgained the Commanders 313 to 206, with McCarthy going 16-of-23 for 163 yards and three touchdowns. He had touchdown throws of 18 and 6 yards to Josh Oliver, and T.J. Hockenson had a 2-yard touchdown reception.
Aaron Jones had 14 carries for 76 yards and Jordan Mason ran for 52 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown, on 11 carries.
Jordan Addison caught four passes for 62 yards, but Jordan Jefferson had only two receptions for 11 yards.
The Commanders reached the Vikings 2, 19 and 24 without scoring. They turned it over on downs, threw an interception (on the play Daniels was injured) and Marcus Mariota, who replaced Daniels, lost a fumble.
Mariota was 2-of-4 for 30 yards with a pick and the fumble. Chris Rodriguez had 10 carries for 52 yards, and Terry McLaurin caught three passes for 41 yards.
Jayden Daniels was playing his first game since dislocating his left elbow while bracing a fall during a sack in Week 9. He reinjured his elbow following an interception with 8:16 left in the third quarter.
Vikings defensive back Isaiah Rodgers blocked the Commanders quarterback on a return by Andrew Van Ginkel, sending Daniels flying. He landed on his left elbow and remained on the ground holding it.
The Commanders list Daniels as questionable to return, but considering Washington trails 17-0 on its way to falling to 3-10 on the season, it seems unlikely he will.
Daniels went 9-of-20 for 78 yards and an interception and ran for 16 yards on four carries.
Marcus Mariota replaced Daniels on the drive that started with 7:01 remaining in the third quarter and promptly threw an interception.
The Vikings scored on their first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
In a fast-moving first half, the Vikings went 61 and 98 yards on their first two drives before a Von Miller sack of J.J. McCarthy forced a punt on Minnesota’s third possession. The Vikings had a kneel down to close out the half.
The Vikings have outgained the Commanders 166 to 114.
The Commanders had first-and-goal at the Minnesota 4 on their first drive, and Chris Rodriguez ran for 2 yards on first down. But Jayden Daniels threw three consecutive incompletions as the Commanders turned it over on downs. Washington had nine plays for 21 yards on its final two drives of the half.
McCarthy is 9-of-11 for 99 yards and a touchdown, an 18-yard throw to Josh Oliver. Jordan Mason has eight carries for 39 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown run. Jalen Nailor has three catches for 30 yards, but Justin Jefferson only two receptions for 11 yards.
Daniels is 8-of-16 for 67 yards, and Rodriguez has five carries for 36 yards. Terry McLaurin has three catches for 41 yards.
The Jaguars will be without their leader in receptions against the Colts in Sunday’s battle for the top of the AFC South.
Wide receiver Parker Washington is inactive for the game. Washington, who leads the team with 36 catches this season, was listed as questionable to play with a hip injury.
There’s better news for Jacksonville on the other side of the ball. Defensive linemen Arik Armstead (hand) and Travon Walker (back) are both active after joining Washington with questionable tags.
Colts at Jaguars
Colts: CB Sauce Gardner, RB DJ Giddens, DE Tyquan Lewis, S Reuben Lowery, TE Will Mallory, S George Odum, T Luke Tenuta
Jaguars: WR Parker Washington, S Andrew Wingard, LB Yasir Abdullah, OL Walker Little, TE Johnny Mundt, DL Emmanuel Ogbah, DL Austin Johnson.
Dolphins at Jets
Dolphins: QB Quinn Evers, WR Tahj Washington, T Kendall Lamm, DT Matthew Butler, LB Andre Carter, CB A.J. Green
Jets: QB Justin Fields, WR Tyler Johnson, S Tony Adams, CB Ja’Sir Taylor, EDGE Braiden McGregor, DT Mazi Smith, TE Jelani Woods
Steelers at Ravens
Steelers: WR Roman Wilson, DT Derrick Harmon, S Kyle Dugger, T Calvin Anderson, DT Brodric Martin, WR Ke’Shawn Williams, QB Will Howard
Ravens: WR Devontez Walker, DT Aeneas Peebles, G Ben Cleveland, T Joseph Noteboom, QB Cooper Rush
Saints at Buccaneers
Saints: S Justin Reid, CB Rejzohn Wright, RB Alvin Kamara, T Taliese Fuaga, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DT John Ridgeway, DT Khristian Boyd
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, G Elijah Klein, S Kaevon Merriweather, CB Benjamin Morrison, DL Elijah Simmons, T Tristan Wirfs
Titans at Browns
Titans: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, S Jerrick Reed, OL Drew Moss, C Lloyd Cushenberry, DT Shy Tuttle
Browns: G Wyatt Teller, DT Adin Huntington, T Jack Conklin, TE Brenden Bates, RB Raheim Sanders, WR Jamari Thrash
Commanders at Vikings
Commanders: QB Josh Johnson, LB Ale Kaho, T Trent Scott, DE Jalyn Holmes, T George Fant, DE Drake Jackson
Vikings: QB John Wolford, S Theo Jackson, DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, G Joe Huber, T Walter Rouse, TE Ben Yurosek, DL Elijah Williams
Seahawks at Falcons
Seahawks: QB Jalen Milroe, CB Shaquill Griffin, RB Cam Akers, LB Jared Ivey, LB Connor O’Toole, OL Mason Richman
Falcons: WR Drake London, CB Cobee Bryant, RB Nathan Carter, DL Brandon Dorlus, OL Michael Jerrell, WR Casey Washington
Bengals at Bills
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DE Trey Hendrickson, DT Jordan Jefferson
Bills: T Spencer Brown, WR Josh Palmer, LB Terrel Bernard, DE Joey Bosa, DB Darnell Savage, DT Phidarian Mathis, OL Chase Lundt
Four years ago, Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase instantly emerged as one of the best receivers in football. He’s on the verge of joining a very small club of pass-catchers.
Chase, with 971 receiving yards, needs only 29 to get to 1,000. Via NBC Sports research, Chase will become the fifth player in league history to generate 1,000 or more receiving yards in each of his first five seasons.
The others are Justin Jefferson, Mike Evans, A.J. Green, and Randy Moss.
Once Chase makes it, the five-man club will consist of two Bengals, two Vikings, and one Buccaneer.
Multiple other talented receivers won’t be expanding the club in the near future. Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown didn’t get to 1,000 yards as a rookie in 2021. Likewise, Seahawks receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba didn’t make it to 1,000 yards in his first season, 2023. Rams receiver Puka Nacua missed it by 10 yards in 2024, his second season.
Of the 2024 rookies, Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey has the best chance to get to two straight 1,000-yard seasons. At 683 yards in 12 games this season, he needs 317 over the final five weeks to keep it going.
The loser of Sunday’s Vikings-Commanders game will be eliminated from playoff contention and the Vikings are set to have their left tackle in the lineup.
Christian Darrisaw was listed as questionable to play with a knee injury, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that he is expected to be active on Sunday. Darrisaw missed practice on Thursday, but was a full participant on Wednesday and Friday.
Darrisaw’s presence will be a plus for an offense that’s hoping to get a strong performance from quarterback J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy missed last week with a concussion, but has been cleared to start against Washington.
Rookie left guard Donovan Jackson (ankle) is also listed as questionable for the Vikings.
The Vikings announced several roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game against the Commanders.
Quarterback John Wolford has been signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. Wolford was elevated on a temporary basis last week with J.J. McCarthy sidelined by a concussion.
McCarthy is back this week and signing Wolford to the active roster means that the Vikings could designate him or Max Brosmer as a third emergency quarterback this week.
The Vikings elevated cornerback Dwight McGlothern and defensive lineman Taki Taimani from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. They also announced that running back Ty Chandler will not be elevated from the practice squad this weekend.
