How J.J. McCarthy 'had some real moments of growth' as Carson Wentz started for Vikings

Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback Carson Wentz won two of three starts as Week 1 QB1 J.J. McCarthy recovered from a high right ankle sprain that McCarthy picked up back on Sept. 14. 

While speaking with reporters on Monday, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell revealed that he feels McCarthy "had some real moments of growth" while watching Wentz help Minnesota improve to 3-2 on the season. 

What is "the most critical part" of J.J. McCarthy's ongoing development?

"I think he's kind of taken a lot of that, just watching closely and my dialogue with him," O'Connell said about McCarthy, per Lindsey Young of the Vikings' website. "But I think the most critical part is going to be the techniques and fundamentals of playing the position the way he worked so hard to build up throughout the spring and the summer."

McCarthy recorded two touchdown passes and rushed for a score in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's 27-24 Week 1 win at the Chicago Bears. However, he tallied zero touchdowns and three interceptions over his other seven quarters of action. 

"I think it's going to be more about the physical side of his lower-body mechanics and then just trying to put together a game plan for him throughout practices: 'How much can he do? What's the soreness level coming out of practices?' To be able to try to have the most consistent level of a ramp-up as we can," O'Connell added about how McCarthy will spend Minnesota's Week 6 bye. 

Will J.J. McCarthy start for Vikings vs. Eagles in Week 7?

Wentz completed 69-of-100 passes for 759 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions over Minnesota's past three games. This past Sunday, he guided the Vikings on a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive late in Minnesota's 21-17 win over the Cleveland Browns in London. 

Later that night, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported that McCarthy’s status for Minnesota's Week 7 game against the Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) is "up in the air." Philadelphia plays at the New York Giants (1-4) this coming Thursday night.

"I anticipate his workload building up," O'Connell said about McCarthy's return to the practice field during the bye. "We're going to really take advantage of that bonus Monday, not only with him, but with our whole team."

O'Connell hasn't publicly hinted that he could sit a healthy McCarthy to start Wentz against the Eagles. That said, it sounds like O'Connell won't rush McCarthy back into action until the Vikings determine that the 22-year-old is 100 percent healthy.