Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Sits Preseason Finale on Ankle

McCarthy Held Out With Ankle Injury

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will not suit up for Friday's preseason finale against the Broncos, sidelined by an ankle injury. The good news for Minnesota: a source told ESPN the team does not view it as a long-term problem.

What It Means for Your Survivor Pick

A banged-up quarterback is always worth flagging, but the framing here matters. This is a preseason game, and the report signals nothing serious — the kind of precautionary sit-out teams make all the time to protect a starter before games count. There's no indication McCarthy's regular-season availability is in question, so this shouldn't change how you value Minnesota once the schedule opens. Still, keep an eye on practice reports as the opener nears; an ankle can linger, and a quarterback who isn't fully mobile is a reason to pause before locking any team as a safe survivor pick. For now, treat it as a note, not a red flag. If you're still setting up your league, you can start a free survivor pool and see how the rules shape your Week 1 strategy.