"The Minnesota Vikings quarterback got a quick two-game taste of the NFL this season before a high right ankle sprain sidelined him for five games. While he was out, a debate raged: Had he been too inexperienced to open the season as the Vikings' starter? Should they have re-signed 2024 starter Sam Darnold or late-2024 addition Daniel Jones, or perhaps inked free agent Aaron Rodgers?"
"After all, McCarthy had produced one magical quarter -- accounting for three touchdowns in a Week 1 comeback victory over the Chicago Bears -- and seven shaky quarters in his two-game stint. By the end of it, his 20.3 QBR ranked No. 32 of 33 qualified quarterbacks in the NFL."
"McCarthy missed three weeks of practice, began to ramp up during the Vikings' bye and then spent two weeks in purgatory as their emergency No. 3 quarterback -- cleared by doctors but not yet ready to give the team its best chance to win. That assignment fell to backup Carson Wentz, who played his final 2 1/2 games with a left shoulder injury that will require season-ending surgery."
J.J. McCarthy started the season with two appearances before a high right ankle sprain sidelined him for five games. His early play included a Week 1 quarter with three touchdowns and otherwise inconsistent performance that left him with a 20.3 QBR, ranking 32nd of 33 qualified quarterbacks. The Vikings prioritized his full recovery, delaying a return while he missed practices, ramped up during the bye and served briefly as an emergency third quarterback. Backup Carson Wentz took over but suffered a left shoulder injury requiring season-ending surgery, creating another opportunity for McCarthy to reclaim the starting role.
Read at ESPN.com
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