Pair of Vikings Pro Bowlers Ruled Out for Chargers Game
Posted October 23, 2025
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.
Buccaneers’ Mike Evans receives injury timeline ahead of surgery
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions was painful in more ways than one. Not only did the 24-9 defeat halt their momentum, but it also cost them their most reliable offensive weapon. Star wide receiver Mike Evans suffered a fractured collarbone during the Monday Night Football matchup and is now set to miss a significant portion of the 2025 NFL season.
Evans had just returned from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three weeks, but his comeback was short-lived. Late in the second quarter against Detroit, Evans attempted to haul in a high pass and came down awkwardly after contact with cornerback Rock Ya-Sin.
Trainers rushed to his aid as the veteran remained down on the field before being carted to the locker room. Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed postgame that Evans had sustained a broken collarbone and would be out for most of the year, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
“Bucs WR Mike Evans suffered a broken collarbone and is out for most of the year,” Rapoport posted on X. “Absolutely brutal.”
On Tuesday, Rapoport followed up with an encouraging update, reporting that Evans is scheduled for surgery this week to repair the clean break. “Bucs WR Mike Evans is set for surgery this week to repair his broken collarbone, sources say — a clean break that should have Evans back in eight weeks or fewer,” Rapoport added.
The timing of Evans’ injury is devastating for Tampa Bay’s offense. The Buccaneers have leaned heavily on Evans this season, as the veteran was on pace for yet another 1,000-yard campaign — which would have extended his historic streak to 12 straight seasons, the longest in NFL history.
His absence leaves Baker Mayfield without his top downfield threat and forces other pass-catchers like Cade Otton, Sterling Shepard, and rookie Emeka Egbuka to shoulder the load.
Against the Lions, Tampa Bay’s offense struggled to find rhythm. Mayfield completed 28 of 50 passes for 228 yards, with his lone touchdown going to Tez Johnson. The run game fared no better, producing only 38 yards on 12 carries, as the Buccaneers fell behind early and never recovered.
Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reported that Evans’ expected recovery timeline is 6–8 weeks, meaning he could potentially return by late December if the Buccaneers remain in the playoff hunt. That scenario would provide a significant boost to Tampa Bay’s postseason chances, though the team will need to stay afloat in his absence.
The Buccaneers, now 5-2, will travel to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, hoping to regroup and find offensive consistency without their superstar receiver.
