Reinforcements have arrived for the Minnesota Vikings.
After missing the first two games of the season, starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) and star safety Harrison Smith (illness) are expected to play on Sunday, September 21 against the Cincinnati Bengals, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Pro Bowl edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and cornerback Jeff Okudah are also expected to make their return after missing Week 2 with a concussion.
The trio of Darrisaw, Smith and Van Ginkel all provided needed boosts to their position groups, but there are still some worrying absences. Starting center Ryan Kelly was ruled out on Friday with a concussion. He joins J.J. McCarthy (ankle) and backup left tackle Justin Skule as players ruled out on the final injury report.
Veteran quarterback Carson Wentz will make his debut for the Vikings (1-1), along with center Michael Jurgens, who will make his first career start against the Bengals. Newly signed quarterback Desmond Ridder is inactive, making undrafted rookie Max Brosmer the next man up under center.
Cincinnati (2-0) is also shorthanded heading into the game.
The Bengals lost Joe Burrow to a turf toe injury last week and will instead trot out former Vikings backup quarterback Jake Browning. Browning is experienced at this stage of his career. He went 4-3 as a starter in place of Burrow in 2023, completing 70.3% of his passes for 242.0 yards per game, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Browning completed 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in three quarters of Cincinnati’s 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
The Bengals will also be without second-round rookie defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (ankle) and starting cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (hamstring).
J.J. McCarthy’s Outlook Takes Positive Turn for Vikings
Dealing with a high ankle sprain, McCarthy was in a walking boot earlier in the week.
On Friday, head coach Kevin O’Connell shared the good news that McCarthy had shed the walking boot, which the Vikings coach called a “precaution,” and attended practice just five days after the injury.
“He’s handling his responsibilities from a rehab standpoint,” O’Connell added. “We’re kind of through the initial wave of that, as far as getting the swelling down and all those things.”
McCarthy seems to have avoided a stint on the injured reserve list, and most recently, was announced to travel with the team on their two-game stint in the United Kingdom — leaving open the possibility that he plays before the team’s Week 6 bye.
“After today, Minnesota will become the first NFL team to play two straight international games in two different countries, next Sunday against the Steelers in Dublin, and the following Sunday against the Browns in London,” Schefter reported. “Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, who is battling a high ankle sprain expected to sideline him for the next two to four weeks, will make the overseas trip.”
If McCarthy cannot play either game overseas, his next chance to play will be a Week 7 matchup with a vaunted Philadelphia Eagles defense that stymied the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl seven months ago.
Vikings Deemed 3-Point Favorites Over Bengals
With several Vikings stars returning to the field on Sunday, the Vikings are deemed 3-point favorites by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Oddsmakers appear bearish on either offense taking off, with the game listed with the lowest mainline over-under at 41.5 points.