"Nine" is back for the Minnesota Vikings, as they look towards any hope of salvaging their season this weekend against the Washington Commanders.

J.J. McCarthy missed last week's game due to a concussion, but he has exited protocol and is a full participant in practice this week, and he is good to go for Sunday's home game.

University of Minnesota alum Max Brosmer stepped in to make his career debut in Seattle in McCarthy's absence and promptly washed out, throwing four interceptions in a massacre in the northwest.

For McCarthy, as the Vikings sit 4-8, it is less about trying to make an improbable-probably-impossible run to the postseason by winning out and more about bringing optimism to a frenzied Vikings fanbase. After a series of games that could only be defined as dysfunctional under McCarthy, he needs to show promise this weekend and get the team a much-needed win.

If the rookie quarterback can't do it against a Commanders team (3-8) with one of the worst defenses in football, then the headlines in Minnesota will shift from 2025 to what they need to do in 2026 to return to being perennial playoff contenders. After one of their most successful regular seasons ever, last season piloted by Sam Darnold, they might be forced to examine McCarthy's longevity if he can't lead the team this Sunday versus a falling-apart Commanders side.

For better or for worse, McCarthy will have the ball on Sunday. Hopefully for Vikings fans, coming off last week's embarrassment, they can at least put up nine points.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: The Return of Nine: Vikings J.J. McCarthy to start vs. Commanders

Reporting by Tyler Erzberger, Touchdown Wire / Touchdown Wire

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