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Sports Souhan: No pressure, J.J. McCarthy. Just save the Vikings’ season With Sunday’s showdown in Detroit a tipping point for the season, all the Vikings are asking of their young QB is, in his third NFL start, to play the role of hero. By Jim Souhan The Minnesota Star Tribune November 2, 2025 at 11:00AM Returning to action for the first time since Week 2 when he suffered a high ankle sprain, J.J. McCarthy will start when the Vikings play the Lions in a make-or-break game. (Jeff Wheeler/The Minnesota Star Tribune) ADVERTISEMENT This is an old team that is built to win now, and it’s also waiting for McCarthy to develop into a winner while not getting help from many recent draftees. What looked like a winning formula in August looks like drunken Jenga now. The players may be noticing. Their effort against the Chargers was embarrassing. The Chargers had lost three of four and were missing their top two running backs, and they ran at will against the Vikings’ expensive defensive front. Before that game, star offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw looked unhappy while talking to the Vikings personnel working him out and testing his surgically repaired knee. Jim Souhan Columnist Jim Souhan is a sports columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune. He has worked at the paper since 1990, previously covering the Twins and Vikings. See More
