The Minnesota Vikings are playing their second straight game without the services of second-year signal-caller J.J. McCarthy, who remains sidelined for the Ireland game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a high-ankle sprain.
Since suffering the injury in Week 2, McCarthy has yet to take the practice field. Just like the week prior, McCarthy did not take part in any session ahead of the Week 4 contest against the Steelers before being ruled out.
So, will the Vikings see their starting quarterback return in Week 5? Or should we expect to see Carson Wentz starting again?
Here's what we know.
Will J.J. McCarthy be back next week?
ESPN's Adam Schefter initially reported that McCarthy would miss two to four weeks with his ankle injury, so there's a good chance he won't be back after two games.
The fact that McCarthy didn't practice at all this week suggests he's probably still another week away, at least, although that has not been confirmed.
When asked about McCarthy playing next week, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was non-committal and noted McCarthy had to be 100% to play.
"I really meant it the other day when I said I want him to get 100 percent healthy," O'Connell said. "I think it's a part of his game to be able to move. I think he moves a lot better than people give him credit for, especially when he is healthy.
"And then it also has an application to his ability to be as accurate as he can possibly be, being that it's his plant foot. ... It's not going to be okay to just be close because then you risk obviously a setback or him taking more reps when he's not truly 100 percent. As we look forward to getting him back in there," he added.
If McCarthy doesn't play next week, the next time we could see him is in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles, as the Vikings have a bye in Week 6.
Talk about returning to a tough opponent.
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