The Detroit Lions enjoyed a relaxing bye week, because truthfully, any team that enters the break with a win feels much better than one that suffers a loss. So, Detroit had a chance to relish its 24-9 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field on Sunday, October 19, and now, it’s time to get back to business.
The Lions move into their Week 9 clash against the Minnesota Vikings with a 5-2 record, while Minnesota sits at 3-4. The last time these two teams faced off, the Vikings were led by quarterback Sam Darnold, and Detroit dominated the contest with a 31-9 victory on January 5 of this year. That win also secured the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs for the Lions.
This time around, the Vikings are battling major quarterback concerns. They opened the season with 2024 draft pick J.J. McCarthy as their starter, following a year in which he was sidelined by injury. However, McCarthy was hurt again this year during the Atlanta Falcons game on September 14 and hasn’t played since. That’s about to change, though.
For starters, Minnesota’s injuries continue to stack up, which gives the Lions an edge heading into Sunday’s game. As ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported, Vikings tight end Josh Oliver and edge rusher Jonathan Greenard both missed practice on Monday, October 27. Perhaps the team was resting them, but typically, missing practice means injury issues.
Oliver has posted five receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns across his first seven outings, according to Pro Football Focus. Greenard, on the other hand, has tallied 30 pressures and two sacks this season, per Pro Football Focus.
Vikings Quarterback J.J. McCarthy Returns
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Minnesota will start McCarthy against Detroit. Rapoport notes that the Vikings waited until now because they wanted full assurance that McCarthy was completely healthy before returning him to action.
Still, they don’t have many alternatives. Veteran quarterback Carson Wentz has been starting despite a dislocated shoulder, but he recently suffered a season-ending injury. “Wentz will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a left shoulder injury he initially sustained Oct. 5 while filling in for J.J. McCarthy,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote on Monday, October 27.
With Wentz out, the Vikings’ lone remaining quarterback other than McCarthy is undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, and Minnesota won’t likely start him. Nothing against Brosmer, but he’s not ready to command an NFL offense.
As Candace Pedraza of SideLion Report wrote on Monday, October 27, “Minnesota clearly has plenty of trust in their young quarterback, but it’s hard to picture him rebounding quickly against a defense like the Lions.”
That means McCarthy will face pressure from Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, and Detroit’s powerful defensive line. Meanwhile, the Vikings’ pass block win rate sits at just 59%, ranking 22nd in the NFL, according to team data. Add it all up, and things are looking promising for the Detroit Lions.
