J.J. McCarthy is in position to return as the Minnesota Vikings’ starter next week in Detroit against the Lions. McCarthy has missed five games with a high ankle sprain. Coach Kevin O’Connell said Friday morning that he “feels positive” about where McCarthy is from a health standpoint.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy will “play an integral part” in the Vikings’ ongoing identity search after a 3-4 start, coach Kevin O’Connell said Friday.

Sadly, this was almost predictable but Carson Wentz was not 100% on Thursday night and it showed. This sets up Minnesota for the return of J.J. McCarthy.

The Vikings have been without their starting quarterback since Week 2 when he suffered a sprained ankle during a loss to the Falcons.

The postgame handshake between Michigan alums J.J. McCarthy and Jim Harbaugh after Thursday's Vikings-Chargers game sparked some buzz.

The Minnesota Vikings could be ready to turn the page back to quarterback J.J. McCarthy after six weeks without their opening-day starter. A high right ankle sprain sidelined McCarthy since Week 2, but Thursday night's 37-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers showed how urgently the Vikings need him back.

It seems like the Minnesota Vikings are being extra cautious with second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy's ankle injury. He did not play on Thursday night, marking the fifth game in a row that McCarthy was sidelined.

The Minnesota Vikings are optimistic that quarterback JJ McCarthy will be healthy enough to play against the Detroit Lions in Week 9.