The Minnesota Vikings could have another quarterback change next week with a new report indicating J.J. McCarthy should be ready.

The former No. 1 pick is expected to start in Week 9 against the Lions, and Minnesota needs him to play like he did at Michigan when he won the national championship.

The Minnesota Vikings are trying to get back above .500 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. They received excellent news on this front when they learned about running back Aaron Jones' potential return. Unfortunately, they can't yet say the same for their young quarterback, who was Minnesota's starter entering the 2025 season.

If McCarthy picks up where he left off and Minnesota’s season sputters to an uninspiring finish, everything will be in question for this team.

Minnesota’s expectation is that the extra rest it has given the former No. 1 pick will have him prepared to start against the Lions in Week 9.

When the Vikings play their next game, nine days from now against the Lions, they need to see what quarterback J.J. McCarthy can do. His high ankle sprain was, we're told, was a 4-6 week injury. The Week 9 game will land seven weeks from when it happened.

McCarthy is unavailable to play for the Minnesota Vikings Thursday, so veteran quarterback Carson Wentz will take over again.

J.J. McCarthy, out since Week 2 with a high ankle sprain, might finally be ready to return to the No. 1 QB spot. He's healthy enough that the Vikings have made him the emergency quarterback against the Eagles and Chargers, so barring a setback, one would imagine he'll be ready by Nov. 2.