Insider Reveals ‘Murky’ Update on Vikings QB Situation After Bye Week
The Minnesota Vikings are currently enjoying their bye week, one that comes at a great time for the team. Minnesota is one of the more banged-up teams in the league right now, with key players such as C Ryan Kelly, RT Brian O’Neill, LG Donovan Jackson, RB Aaron Jones Sr., LB Blake Cashman, and ED Andrew Van Ginkel all dealing with various ailments. Kelly, Jones, and Cashman are currently on Injured Reserve (IR).
Still, even on an off week, controversy swirls around the Vikings. There’s some quarterback intrigue happening in Minnesota. Starting QB J.J. McCarthy has been out since Week 2 with a high-ankle sprain, and now backup QB Carson Wentz is dealing with a shoulder injury. Neither quarterback is guaranteed to be good to go against the Eagles in Week 7.
On Sunday morning, NFL insider Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shed some light on the Vikings’ quarterback dilemma on the NFL GameDay show. “The Vikings’ quarterback situation is murky, to say the least,” Pelissero said. “J.J. McCarthy, I’m told, got good work during the bye week. He should be able to return to practice this week, but McCarthy is still not 100 percent on that ankle.”
“They gotta see his mobility, they gotta see how the ankle responds, and they gotta make sure he is comfortable and in a groove from an operational perspective before they put him back out on the field. Meanwhile, his backup, Carson Wentz, [is] dealing with a left shoulder injury. He could be limited in practice this week. A lot to sort through to figure out who’s going to be out there on the field next week against the Eagles.”
Is There a Starting Quarterback Controversy for the Minnesota Vikings?
A second-year passer out of Michigan, McCarthy was the No. 10 overall pick in 2024 and missed his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus. In his stead, reclamation quarterback Sam Darnold had a sensational season, leading the Vikings to 14 wins, though he couldn’t get it done in the playoffs. Minnesota chose to let him walk in the offseason, anointing McCarthy as the guy this season.
This is essentially McCarthy’s rookie season, and some growing pains were to be expected. Still, this staff took a risk not re-signing Darnold and committing to McCarthy, and in his two games, it’s been more bad than good. He’s thrown for 301 yards and two touchdowns, adding 50 yards and another score on the ground. But McCarthy also threw three interceptions, completed less than 60 percent of his passes, and failed to execute consistent offense, really only having one good quarter of play out of eight.
Meanwhile, the veteran Wentz has been steadier, but not good. In three games, he has 759 passing yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. He’s completing 69 percent of his passes.
The Minnesota Vikings Enter a Tough Three-Game Stretch
Coming out of their bye week, the Vikings play the Eagles, Chargers, and Lions in quick succession. That’s a brutal three-game stretch, and if McCarthy is able to return, he’ll be thrown right back to the wolves.
It doesn’t get much easier after that, as the Vikings still have to play the Packers, Seahawks, Commanders, Cowboys, Lions, and Packers later in the year. It’s a tough schedule, and one that doesn’t allow McCarthy to get his feet under him before he’ll be called upon to step up and win games.
Nick Herbig Leads Steelers to Statement Win Over Browns: "We Didn’t Just Win — We Dominated"
Pittsburgh, PA – October 12, 2025
In one of the most dominant defensive performances of the season, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig set the tone for his team in a resounding 23-9 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. While the Steelers’ offense did just enough to seal the win, it was Herbig and the defense that truly stole the show, with relentless pressure and unmatched intensity throughout the game.
Herbig, who has emerged as one of the brightest stars on the Steelers’ defense this season, recorded two sacks, including a game-changing 11-yard loss in the red zone, as the Steelers’ defense put on an absolute clinic. With four and a half sacks on the season, Herbig now leads the team in that category and has quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the defensive front.
After the game, Herbig made a statement that echoed through the locker room, setting the stage for the remainder of the season: “We didn’t just win today — we DOMINATED. Every sack, every pressure, every hit — we set the tone. The Browns learned today that when we bring the heat, there’s no escaping. We’re not just playing for wins, we’re playing to BREAK teams. This is only the beginning. Keep watching, we’re just getting started.”
Herbig’s words were a testament to the Steelers' mentality heading into the back half of the season. The defense has been the backbone of this team, and with performances like Sunday’s, it’s clear that they are not just content with victories — they want to strike fear into the hearts of every opponent they face.
The Steelers’ defense as a whole was suffocating. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey also had a stellar performance, contributing two sacks of his own and further making life miserable for Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The Steelers’ pass rush never gave Gabriel a moment of peace, and by the time the final whistle blew, Gabriel had been sacked six times and limited to just 210 yards through the air.
Offensively, quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t have to do much to get the win, but he did enough when needed. Rodgers connected with wide receiver DK Metcalf for a 25-yard touchdown, and running back Jaylen Warren capped off a solid performance with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. The offense did just enough to maintain control, and when the defense is playing as it did on Sunday, that’s all that’s needed.
The Browns, on the other hand, were left to lament missed opportunities. Despite some solid play from Gabriel in the second half, they were unable to get anything going consistently on offense, especially with the relentless pressure from Herbig and company. The Browns’ offense could not capitalize on key moments, including a failed fourth-and-12 attempt late in the game that allowed the Steelers to put the finishing touches on their victory.
With the win, the Steelers moved to 4-1, maintaining their hold on the top spot in the AFC North. The defense is clicking on all cylinders, and if they can keep up this level of intensity, there’s no telling how far this team can go. As for Herbig, his leadership is only growing stronger with each passing game. His statement after the game wasn’t just a declaration of dominance; it was a warning to the rest of the league that the Steelers’ defense is back and hungrier than ever.
"We’re not just playing for wins," Herbig said, “we’re playing to break teams.” If the Steelers continue to play with this kind of aggression, there will be no doubt that they are a team to be reckoned with in the AFC.
