Oct 19, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws a pass during warm ups before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Well, if the Minnesota Vikings wanted a softer landing pad for second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy after his recovery from an ankle injury, they really ... couldn't have picked a worse game.

This Sunday, after missing the Vikings' last five games with that mentioned ankle injury, McCarthy will finally return to Minnesota's starting lineup. His reward and first task upon his return? A road date with the rival Detroit Lions, a team many consider to be one of the NFL's prime Super Bowl contenders. It's the NFL, where no game or competition is technically ever "easy," but c'mon now. What (terrible) timing.

At the very least, it sounds like McCarthy will, fortunately, have a full week of practice preparation with no limitations. Still, talk about throwing your hopeful future face of the franchise in McCarthy back into the fire right away.

In McCarthy's absence, the Vikings went just 2-3 and fell below .500 for the first time all season. Expecting him to save the Vikings' season might be a tad foolish in that regard. Nevertheless, these will be meaningful repetitions for a still-developing young player.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Is J.J. McCarthy playing for Vikings in Week 9?

Reporting by Robert Zeglinski, For The Win / For The Win

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