Kevin O’Connell confirms J.J. McCarthy plan after Vikings' blowout loss to Chargers

For the third time in four games, the Minnesota Vikings suffered a loss with Carson Wentz serving as their starting quarterback when they were handed a brutal 37-10 defeat at the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday evening. 

Shortly after the Vikings fell to 3-4 on the season, Kevin O’Connell spoke with reporters and sounded like a head coach who was eager to turn back to Week 1 QB1 J.J. McCarthy.

When will J.J. McCarthy next start for the Vikings?

"If J.J. is healthy, J.J. will play," O'Connell said after the debacle at SoFi Stadium, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN. "That's been the case since the injury. That's always been kind of my mindset, and I believe we're right -- hopefully -- around the corner from seeing him be healthy, have a week of preparation and go compete."

Before Thursday's contest kicked off, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested the Vikings were planning to have McCarthy in the lineup for their Week 9 game at the Detroit Lions on Nov. 2. The second-year pro hasn't played since he suffered what became a lingering ankle issue in Week 2. 

A 2024 first-round draft pick, McCarthy spent his entire rookie season recovering from a full meniscus repair. O'Connell has repeatedly spoken about how McCarthy's "lower-body mechanics" must be right before the 22-year-old makes another start, but the harsh truth of the matter is that Minnesota players have likely lost faith in Wentz's ability to keep the team afloat this fall. 

On Thursday, Wentz did his best to play through a left shoulder injury that he picked up back on Oct. 5. Versus the Chargers, he took five sacks and completed 15-of-27 passes for 144 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

What are Vikings' expectations for McCarthy?

Outside of one quarter of action, McCarthy mostly failed to look the part over his two outings before his latest setback. Nevertheless, O'Connell and Co. seem to understand they need to see what McCarthy is and/or isn't as a pro sooner rather than later.

"The expectation is that the extra rest will have McCarthy ready for the Vikings’ game against Detroit," Breer added. "Assuming he is prepared, the plan is to start him. And the hope is that, by waiting, they’ll get a quarterback going out there with a head of steam and, more important, filled with confidence."

Others in the Vikings' locker room may spend the weekend wondering what could have been had the club held onto either Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones for at least one more season, but what's done is done. For better or for worse, Minnesota needs whatever version of McCarthy will be available to play on the first Sunday of November. 

The 5-2 Lions are currently enjoying their bye week.