Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was unavailable for Friday's preseason game at the Denver Broncos because of an ankle injury he suffered last weekend against the Baltimore Ravens.
The team does not consider the injury a long-term issue, a source told ESPN.
Starter Kyler Murray was previously scheduled to sit out, along with most of the Vikings' frontline players. That left veteran Carson Wentz and second-year quarterback Max Brosmer as the available quarterbacks in Denver.
McCarthy's injury prompted coach Kevin O'Connell to remove him earlier than expected from the Ravens game. O'Connell said earlier this week that he hoped McCarthy could start against the Broncos to get more game reps before the start of the regular season.
Instead, McCarthy told team officials that he did not feel comfortable enough to play.
Although mild, the injury is another in a long list of ailments that has cost McCarthy playing time since the Vikings made him the No. 10 pick of the 2024 draft. He missed his entire rookie season because of a torn meniscus in his right knee and played only 10 games in 2025 because of a high right ankle sprain and a concussion. He left two of his starts early because of a hairline fracture in his right thumb.
Upon naming Murray the starter, O'Connell said McCarthy would be his primary backup. But after last weekend's injury, which coincided with McCarthy missing two open receivers for potential touchdowns, O'Connell indicated that the No. 2 job was competitive between McCarthy and Wentz.