J.J. McCarthy stays on the Vikings 53 — and the injury story still doesn’t add up. The Minnesota Vikings set their 53-man roster with J.J. McCarthy still on it, then spent Monday shuffling the edges. On The Real Forno Show, Tyler Forness and Dave Stefano unpacked the leak that McCarthy’s ankle is suddenly “week to week,” Ben Goessling’s report that McCarthy himself chose not to play Friday, the Max Brosmer and Dillon Bell cuts, waiver claims of Trevor Keegan and Nick Samac, and a practice squad still taking
shape.
Forness opened with the elephant in the room: he expected Minnesota to move on from McCarthy before the deadline. Then Adam Schefter said on Pat McAfee that the ankle is a multi-week injury — 10 days after the sprain, after McCarthy practiced fully Monday and Tuesday. “I don’t buy it for a second,” Forness said. “If it really was a multi-week injury… now we’re calling it a week-to-week injury after he goes out and practices in full?” Stefano called a grade-one deltoid sprain “100% playable” and asked why sitting Friday or leaking “week to week” would help trade stock. Forness noted other backups (Quinn Ewers, Kyle McCord) already moved for sixth-rounders, and that waiting only shrinks the market. Goessling reported the sit-out was McCarthy’s call, not the organization’s. “It was him not being comfortable playing in the game,” Forness quoted. “The whole thing just smells rotten.”
Monday’s moves were clearer. Minnesota claimed interior linemen Keegan and Samac after trading Walter Rouse, then waived Brosmer and Bell to make room. Forness said if McCarthy can’t go Week 1, Kevin O’Connell will want a third active-roster quarterback because an emergency QB must be on the 53, not the practice squad. They also ran the rest of the roster: four tight ends with T.J. Hockenson in a contract year; Tyler Batty’s torn ACL thinning the edge; Caleb Banks as a long-term “unicorn” pick, not a Year 1 finished product. “You drafted him for ’27, ’29, and ’30,” Forness said. “Trading him now would be incredibly shortsighted.”
Key points from the episode:
- J.J. McCarthy saga: McCarthy practiced fully Monday and Tuesday before sitting out Wednesday. He chose not to play Friday’s preseason finale despite the plan being for him to start the first half. Trade talks reportedly occurred but no deal materialized. Tyler expects a new quarterback added if McCarthy can’t play Week 1.
- Offensive line: The Vikings claimed Trevor Keegan (fourth-ranked PFF guard) and Nick Samac (top PFF preseason center), both with center versatility. Walter Rouse was traded for a sixth-round pick. Max Brosmer and Dillon Bell were waived.
- Tight end: Four TEs made the roster—T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Ben Yurosek, and Gavin Bartholomew. Tyler noted Hockenson is in the final year of his deal.
- Caleb Banks: Tyler defended the developmental pick: “You’re drafting for ’27, ’29, and ’30. This guy could, if he reaches his potential, be a Chris Jones type wrecking All-Pro.”
- Edge depth: Tyler Batty tore his ACL and is out for the year. The edge group includes Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Bo Richter, and Chaz Chambliss.
- Linebacker: Ivan Pace Jr. showed improvement in coverage. Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, and Jake Golday round out the group.
- Special teams: Brett Thorson beat out Johnny Hekker for the punter job, with Tyler citing the international pathway player designation and comparable performance.
- Practice squad: Da’Veawn Armstead, Kahlef Hailassie, Bangally Kamara, Jahvaree Ritzie, and Cam’Ron Stewart highlight a group Tyler called “pretty solid.” GM Nolan Teasley’s Seattle connections brought in Marshall Lang, Michael Briscoe, and Trayvon Rudolph.
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What do you think?
Which roster decision surprised you the most—and do you think McCarthy is still on this team come Week 1?
