Jets hoping former All-Pro Quincy Williams can return, help stop the bleeding
The New York Jets are hoping to see the return of an All-Pro on defense soon after designating linebacker Quincy Williams for his return from injured reserve.
Williams has been out since New York’s Week 3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will now face a 21-day practice window, during which he can return to the active roster at any time. If he fails to be activated, though, he will revert to season-ending IR.
That likely is not a possibility, or at least, not an expected one. When the 29-year-old suffered a shoulder injury, the Jets realized that he would likely be out for a good stretch of time, but they did not consider him to be in danger of missing the remainder of the season.
New York has been quiet on Williams’ progress coming back from injury so far, but his return to practice this week should provide some insight. He was a full participant Wednesday, and if that continues throughout the week, the team may not hesitate to get him back in the game.
We've designated LB Quincy Williams to return from injured reserve. pic.twitter.com/Z9298Gx78W
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 22, 2025
The Jets typically run with two linebackers on defense, though a third starter is designated for formations that don’t require an extra defensive back. During Williams’ All-Pro year in 2023, he played next to C.J. Mosley, while Jamien Sherwood served as the occasional third starter. Last year looked to a similar lineup, until Mosley saw toe and neck injuries limit him to only four games. With Mosley out, Sherwood stepped up next to Williams, and former college quarterback Chazz Surratt played the third-man role.
This season, following Mosley’s retirement and Surratt’s departure in free agency, it looked to be Williams and Sherwood reprising their roles with third-year linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball as the occasional third. McCrary-Ball had almost exclusively been a special teamer in his first two seasons, only appearing on the field for three defensive snaps before this year, and he had already set new career highs through three weeks of play when it was announced that he would be joining Williams on IR with a hamstring injury.
With both Williams and McCrary-Ball out, New York has turned to Miami (FL) fifth-round rookie Kiko Mauigoa. The 22-year-old has gone from appearing in a couple snaps here or there to playing nearly full game snap shares alongside Sherwood. Over the last two weeks, former practice squad linebacker Mykal Walker has stepped into the third role of this thin linebacking corps.
If Williams is able to come back soon, Mauigoa will likely shift into the third-man role, at least until McCrary-Ball can also return from IR. Back in the starting lineup, Williams will work to get back up to the level of play he’s displayed over the past two years for the Green and White.
Pair of Vikings Pro Bowlers Ruled Out for Chargers Game
The Minnesota Vikings’ roster has yet to reach its full potential as injuries have impacted the team early this season.
Ahead of a Week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, there was the potential that Pro Bowl edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and Pro Bowl fullback C.J. Ham would return from injury.
However, on a short week before the “Thursday Night Football” matchup, the Vikings have ruled out both Van Ginkel and Ham. Van Ginkel is ailing from a lingering neck injury that he suffered in the season opener, while Ham has returned to practice after starting the season on the injured reserve list.
That isn’t the end of injury concerns for Minnesota.
Starting tackles Christian Darrisaw (knee) and Brian O’Neill (knee) and running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) are listed as questionable on the final injury report.
J.J. McCarthy, dealing with an ankle injury, is also listed as questionable but is expected to serve as the emergency quarterback as Carson Wentz gets his fifth start for the Vikings. Max Brosmer will be the immediate backup to Wentz, who is also dealing with a shoulder injury.
Vikings QB Situation Reaches Boiling Point as JJ McCarthy Nears Return
As the Vikings enter Thursday’s primetime matchup at 3-3 on the season, Minnesota’s quarterback crisis has hit its boiling point.
National pundits have continued to speculate on the severity of McCarthy’s injury and the potential of a “soft benching” by head coach Kevin O’Connell. Regardless of the validity of those takes, fans in Minnesota are eager to see McCarthy given Wentz’s performance in his place.
Wentz has kept the Vikings afloat, going 2-2 as a starter and throwing five touchdowns to four interceptions. However, Wentz’s accuracy and decision-making were suspect as he threw two interceptions, one of which went for a pick-six in a 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last week.
The Vikings are likely a .500 team with Wentz under center, but the purpose of this season is to learn what Minnesota has in McCarthy.
O’Connell indicated that McCarthy is close to returning and maintained that he wanted to see the 22-year-old have a full week of practice before his next start — effectively disqualifying him from starting this week even before the Eagles game.
McCarthy appears poised to return for a Week 9 matchup against the Detroit Lions. The game has been circled by many local beat reporters since the bye week.
But if he doesn’t play next week, it may officially be time to panic in Minnesota.
Vikings Can’t Afford a Loss to Chargers on TNF
It’s early, but the Vikings are facing an uphill battle to make the postseason.
Currently fourth in the NFC North, the Vikings have an 11% chance of making the playoffs, according to The Athletic’s playoff simulator.
The divisional stretch of the schedule is going to be a gauntlet, and the Vikings have little margin for error already.
A loss would bury the Vikings’ playoff chances to just 7% before facing the defending champion Lions and division-leading Green Bay Packers in the first of two games each.
