The Detroit Lions are neck and neck in the battle for NFC North dominance and could be up against a major test in their upcoming matchup with a division foe.
The Lions are off this week for their bye, using the downtime to rest and recover from a growing list of injuries, particularly on defense. However, the break will also allow the rival Minnesota Vikings to prepare their starting quarterback for a potential return ahead of next week’s clash with Detroit.
Lions Projected to See J.J. McCarthy Back Under Center Next Week
According to The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, McCarthy appears on track to reclaim his starting job next week against the Lions. The second-year passer has been sidelined for five games with a high ankle sprain, but Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Friday that McCarthy is trending toward a full return.
“He got some work today, and the goal is for him to continue progressing through the early part of next week so he can have a full week of prep,” O’Connell said.
O’Connell also noted that the bye week will give McCarthy time to regain timing and chemistry with his receivers.
“For J.J., it’s really about sticking to the fundamentals he’s emphasized during rehab — making sure his feet and eyes are in sync so he can locate completions across our eligible players, whether that’s a receiver, T.J. (Hockenson), or even Aaron Jones, Jordan (Mason), or Zay (Zavier Scott) out of the backfield,” O’Connell explained.
The Vikings have struggled with veteran Carson Wentz filling in at quarterback. Wentz completed just 15-of-27 passes for 144 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 37-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, clearly hampered by injury.
Minnesota placed tremendous faith in McCarthy, letting veteran Sam Darnold walk in free agency after he guided them to a 14-3 record last season following McCarthy’s injury. The young quarterback had shown potential early in 2025, but his latest setback has reignited concerns about durability.
Lions Anticipate Reinforcements on the Injury Front
Though the Lions are expected to see McCarthy next week, they’re also getting healthier themselves. Jimmy Liao of USA Today’s Lions Wire reported that several Detroit players will return soon, including safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph next week, while cornerback Terrion Arnold and running back Sione Vaki are slated to follow the week after.
More help is expected in the weeks ahead, with cornerback DJ Reed, defensive lineman Marcus Davenport, and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez also on track to rejoin the lineup.
Those returns should provide a lift for a Lions defense that’s been battered by injuries over the past two seasons. Still, the team may look outside for more help, as some insiders believe Detroit could target defensive reinforcements at the trade deadline — particularly in the secondary or along the defensive front.
