Script for McCarthy's return gets dreamier with Vikings' top two tackles back
Michigan. Tom Brady. Vikings. Lions. Who's got it better than J.J. McCarthy?
It's Week 9 of the NFL season and McCarthy will make his return to the field in Detroit for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2, and the script, which was already better than anything Hollywood could've dreamed up, got even better with multiple reports saying Vikings tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill will play.
Both Darrisaw and O'Neill were listed as questionable on Minnesota's final injury report, but their inclusion Sunday in the Motor City should make McCarthy's life under center a whole lot better.
The script really is perfect. McCarthy is playing in Michigan, where he led the Wolverines to a national championship alongside Aidan Hutchinson, who will be chasing him for the Lions, all while Michigan great Tom Brady calls the game in the FOX broadcast booth.
It's as good as it gets from the storyline perspective, and as big as it gets for a Minnesota team that has been plagued by injuries and stumbled to a 3-4 record. A win Sunday will keep them in the thick of the NFC North race, while a loss would significantly hurt their chances in the division and in the NFC wild-card race.
McCarthy played in the first two games of the season without Darrisaw, who was still going through the final stages of ACL rehab. The 22-year-old quarterback also played without wide receiver Jordan Addison in Weeks 1 and 2, as Addison was serving a three-game suspension connected to his DWI arrest in California in July 2024.
McCarthy also faced an Atlanta defense that has held every opposing quarterback to 205 passing yards or less. The Falcons held McCarthy to 158 pass yards, while also limiting Baker Mayfield (167), Bryce Young (121), Marcus Mariota (156), Josh Allen (180), Mac Jones (152), and Tua Tagovailoa (205).
All in all, McCarthy is making his return in a pivotal game — and he'll have the strongest supporting cast he's ever had in his young career as an NFL starter. The only key players he won't have around him are center Ryan Kelly, who is on injured reserve after sustaining two concussions, and No. 2 tight end Josh Oliver, who suffered a foot sprain last week against the Chargers.
The stage is set. Now it's up to McCarthy to show the world what he can do.
Bills Legend Eric Moulds Sells Final Game-Worn Jersey to Support Teammate Battling Parkinson’s Disease
Buffalo, NY – November 1, 2025
In a gesture that’s brought a wave of emotion across Bills Mafia, legendary wide receiver Eric Moulds — the shining star of Buffalo’s offense through a difficult decade — has auctioned off the
game-worn jersey from his final season to support a former teammate now facing the hardest battle of his life.
For fans who remember the late ’90s and early 2000s, Moulds was the lone constant in an era of instability. Known for his precision routes, contested catches, and quiet leadership, he became the franchise’s beacon of hope through years of quarterback turnover. From 1996 to 2005, he posted
675 receptions, 9,096 yards, and 48 touchdowns, including a historic 100-catch season in 2002, earning three Pro Bowl selections and a permanent place among the Bills’ all-time greats.
That former teammate is Takeo Spikes, the relentless linebacker who commanded Buffalo’s defense with passion and authority. During his time with the team (2003–2005), Spikes recorded over 200 tackles
, earned two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro selection in 2003, and became known as the emotional core of the defense — the “defensive quarterback” who brought fire to every down.
💬 “We carried this team through the storms — him on defense, me on offense,” Moulds said quietly. “Now that he’s fighting something far tougher than any Sunday battle, I want this jersey to fight for him — the same way he fought for Buffalo.”
Spikes, beloved for his intensity and leadership, has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder that has gradually affected his movement and coordination. Despite the diagnosis, those close to him say his trademark energy and optimism haven’t faded — he continues to train, mentor young athletes, and advocate for player health awareness.
Moulds’ decision to sell his final jersey isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about brotherhood. The proceeds from the auction will go directly to the Bills Alumni Health & Wellness Fund
, supporting Spikes’ treatment and ongoing medical research into Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative conditions among retired NFL players.
💬 “This jersey carried our pride, our pain, and our fight,” Moulds reflected.
