Vikings Get Strong Take on Situation With J.J. McCarthy
After sitting out multiple games with an ankle injury, J.J. McCarthy is set to return as the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. His timing couldn’t be better, with Carson Wentz sidelined for the rest of the 2025 NFL season following a shoulder injury.
The Vikings will look to McCarthy to lead them to a Week 9 victory over the Detroit Lions and keep their playoff hopes alive in the NFC. Staying healthy will be key, as Minnesota probably wants to evaluate whether McCarthy has what it takes to be their franchise quarterback moving forward.
While the second-year quarterback could feel pressure on him to justify the Vikings’ decision to let Sam Darnold walk, former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner had an honest take on the young signal-caller.
“I think there’s a lot of transition going on here that we need to understand, but it’s hard to grasp because all we want to look at is a 14-win team and a quarterback who played there last year, lighting it up in Seattle,”
“Maybe he plays like Drake Maye does next year, in his second year [as a starter] with the team, and now we’re forgetting about all of that—it doesn’t really matter. I think he was against the eightball from the start. He’s got room to grow and a ways to go before we can really know who he’s going to be at this level.”
Is the Pressure J.J. McCarthy Is Facing Unfair?
Nonetheless, Warner acknowledges why there’s pressure on McCarthy due to the Vikings coming off a 14-win 2024 season. Still, he deems that situation unfair for the Minnesota quarterback.
“There is pressure on him because of all the things that I talked about,“ Warner added. “And to me, it’s undue pressure to expect him to step in in his first year and
“If he doesn’t become a great player in this league, we’re going to look back at this moment and talk about what Minnesota did and did they make the right—and all of those different things. But I just feel like he’s in a really, really tough spot and was from the get-go this year because any first-year starting quarterback to have that kind of pressure on him is just an unfair proposition.”
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Talks J.J. McCarthy
Before the second-year quarterback’s matchup with the Lions, wide receiver Justin Jefferson met with the media on October 30 to share his thoughts on having the young QB back leading the offense.
“Looks good,“ Jefferson told reporters. “Just going through the plays, going through the motions, dialing up the connection, and, of course, expanding the relationship that we have out there
“It’s just all about having that energy and thinking about one play at a time—not thinking about the big play, making the best play of the game, or being perfect throughout the game. It’s just all about taking one play at a time, leaning on everybody in the offense to go to work, and just lead us. And that’s pretty much the main message to him.”
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
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.
