Vikings Accused of Overplaying JJ McCarthy’s Injury, Benching Him on Purpose
The Minnesota Vikings will hold second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy out of the starting lineup for the fifth consecutive game when the team takes on the Los Angeles Chargers on “Thursday Night Football,” and one prominent sports doctor is calling foul on the play.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Tuesday that Carson Wentz will start, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will be the QB2 and McCarthy will again serve as the third-string/emergency quarterback.
On Wednesday, Dr. David J. Chao of Sirius XM and Fox Sports Radio asserted that O’Connell’s decision is a clear indication that Minnesota brass is choosing to sit McCarthy, even though he is healthy enough to play.
“Proof positive that [McCarthy] is healthy enough to play. Not saying he is 100%, but no way [O’Connell] would make him emergency QB for 2nd straight week otherwise,” Chao posted to X. “All I am saying is [Patrick Mahomes] won a [Super Bowl] playing thru high ankle sprain, and right now JJ is not [Mahomes], which makes this a ‘coaching decision.'”
J.J. McCarthy Has Been Out Long Time Considering Relative Seriousness of Ankle Injury
GettyQuarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings.
McCarthy injured his ankle against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, during a game played on September 14. Thus, when the Vikings take the field on Thursday night, the 22-year-old quarterback will be nearly six weeks removed from the ankle sprain.
It isn’t completely unheard of that teams will hold out players with severe ankle sprains for several weeks, but a full seven weeks will have passed before Minnesota plays the Detroit Lions on ten days rest following its Thursday night matchup with the Chargers on October 23.
Many players who suffer moderate-to-severe hamstring strains, or even broken bones, can typically return in that amount of time, or something close to it, which is potentially cause for the raising of a few eyebrows with regards to the Vikings’ QB situation.
Wentz is 2-2 over his four starts this season, throwing for 1,072 yards on a 67 percent completion rate for five TDs and four INTs. He is also battling an injury to his non-throwing (left) shoulder. Meanwhile, McCarthy is 1-1 and has thrown for 301 yards, two TDs and three INTS on 58.5 percent passing this year.
Vikings Potential Trade Partners for Falcons QB Kirk Cousins
GettyAtlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins.
If the Vikings could be starting McCarthy and aren’t, that raises serious questions about his future as the team’s franchise quarterback.
Multiple entities have already floated the possibility that Minnesota might explore a trade for Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons in the coming weeks, ahead of the league’s November 4 deadline to execute such transactions.
Doing so would essentially be the Vikings admitting that they made two serious mistakes by letting Sam Darnold leave for the Seattle Seahawks (5-2) and Daniel Jones depart for the Indianapolis Colts (6-1) in free agency.
Perhaps O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah are loathe to do so at this point, as it could impact McCarthy’s confidence moving forward. However, if McCarthy knows he can play now and the team isn’t letting him, those circumstances may already be producing a negative impact on McCarthy’s psyche.
How the Vikings handle the next couple of weeks before the trade deadline will be telling, particularly if Wentz struggles or suffers further injury against the Chargers or Lions. If Brosmer starts over McCarthy and/or if Minnesota decides to trade for a veteran QB like Cousins, things could be much worse for McCarthy than they currently appear.
Serena Williams Breaks Hollywood Norms by Joining Bridgerton Through Friendship, Not Auditions
Look, we’ve all tried getting a job through LinkedIn or cold emails, right? Meanwhile, Serena Williams just danced her way onto one of Netflix’s biggest shows. Because apparently, when you’re a 23-time Grand Slam champion, you can just skip the whole “audition tape” thing and land a role in Bridgerton through Instagram.
Must be nice.
The tennis legend’s upcoming appearance in the hit period drama didn’t happen through some stuffy casting call. Instead, it all started with a TikTok dance challenge, some killer chemistry with producer Shonda Rhimes, and probably the most fun job interview in television history. If you’re sitting there updating your resume for the millionth time, you might want to reconsider your strategy.
How Williams Went From Tennis Courts to Regency-Era Romance
The whole thing kicked off during the Stephanie Mills challenge—you know, that viral trend where everyone dances to “Never Knew Love Like This Before.” Williams teamed up with Rhimes for what looked like just another celebrity collaboration. Rhimes lip-synced while holding her memoir Year of Yes like a microphone, and Williams brought the energy as her backup dancer.
But here’s where it gets interesting. What started as playful banter turned into something real when Rhimes jokingly suggested Williams could appear as a Bridgerton extra if she kept up the backup dancing gig. The internet absolutely ate it up, with even Ellen Pompeo (Rhimes’ Grey’s Anatomy star) jumping into the comments to cosign the whole thing. The official Shondaland account basically demanded they make it happen.
And honestly? The chemistry between them was undeniable. These aren’t just two celebrities doing a publicity stunt—this is genuine friendship between two women who’ve completely transformed their respective industries.
The Friendship That Made It Happen
What makes this casting actually feel authentic instead of gimmicky is the real relationship between Williams and Rhimes. This isn’t some random celebrity cameo cooked up by a marketing team at 2 AM. Rhimes has been vocal about her admiration for the Williams sisters for years, praising not just their athletic achievements but who they are as people.
The dance video happened during an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of Rhimes’ Year of Yes book tour in Philadelphia this past October. Williams hosted the evening, and afterward, Rhimes couldn’t stop gushing about it on Instagram. She called Williams a “legend” and an “icon” who made the night unforgettable, highlighting her comedic timing and natural ability to create memorable moments.
It’s refreshing, honestly. In an industry that often feels manufactured and fake, watching two powerhouses genuinely enjoy each other’s company hits different.
When Can We Actually See Williams in Action?
Before you get too excited about Williams popping up in corsets and attending balls in Season 4 (dropping January 2026), pump the brakes a bit. Industry insiders are suggesting her actual appearance will more likely happen in Season 5. Production timelines being what they are, it makes sense they’d need more time to integrate her character meaningfully into the show’s intricate storylines.
Bridgerton has already redefined period dramas with its diverse casting, lush visuals, and those orchestral covers of modern pop songs. Adding Williams to this world represents another evolution in how the series approaches celebrity appearances—prioritizing organic connections over manufactured publicity stunts.
Williams’ Growing Entertainment Empire
This isn’t Williams’ first rodeo outside of tennis. Since retiring from professional competition in 2022, she’s been building an impressive entertainment and business portfolio. She’s serving as an executive producer on Netflix’s “Carrie Soto Is Back” (inspired by her own tennis career), made strategic investments through her venture capital firm, and co-owns the NWSL team Angel City FC with her husband, Alexis Ohanian.
She’s also joined the Los Angeles Golf Club alongside Rhimes and Ohanian, getting involved in the tech-focused golf league launching in 2024. Plus, she’s been advocating for mental health awareness and postpartum fitness while balancing family life with her daughters, Olympia and Adira.
The woman doesn’t do anything halfway, apparently.
Breaking Hollywood’s Traditional Rules
What Williams’ Bridgerton casting really represents is how the entertainment industry’s rules are changing. Traditional paths to acting roles—multiple auditions, callbacks, nervous performances for casting directors—are getting disrupted by social media connections and authentic relationships.
Serena Williams didn’t need to prove she could act (though her Super Bowl LIX performance dancing to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” showed she’s got stage presence for days). She didn’t need to submit headshots or read sides. She just needed to be herself, connect with the right person, and let their mutual respect do the talking.
It’s actually a pretty good reminder that sometimes the most valuable currency in any industry isn’t your resume—it’s the genuine relationships you build along the way. Though, you know, being a tennis legend with 23 Grand Slam titles probably doesn’t hurt either.
What This Means for Period Drama Television
Bridgerton has already pushed boundaries with its colorblind casting and modern sensibilities wrapped in historical packaging. Bringing in Williams continues that tradition of doing unexpected things that somehow work perfectly. The show’s never been afraid to break conventions, and this casting feels like a natural extension of that philosophy.
Whether Serena Williams delivers a brief cameo or something more substantial remains to be seen. But her participation guarantees significant viewer interest and media coverage. More importantly, it sends a message about television increasingly embracing unconventional casting that prioritizes cultural conversations over traditional acting credentials.
The Bottom Line
Serena Williams continues proving that excellence in one field can translate to success in completely different arenas—if you’re willing to take risks and stay authentic. From dominating tennis for decades to viral dance moments and now Regency-era romance, her journey reflects both personal evolution and broader cultural shifts.
As production continues on upcoming Bridgerton seasons, one thing’s certain: Williams’ eventual appearance will be must-see TV. And somewhere, aspiring actors are probably wondering if they should just start making TikToks with famous producers instead of taking acting classes.
