How injury setbacks fueled J.J. McCarthy’s edgy alter ego in Vikings return
NY Post
He might have been wearing a No. 9 Vikings jersey, but J.J. McCarthy was not the real author behind last Sunday’s thrilling 27-24 victory over the Lions.
The real mastermind, according to the 22-year-old quarterback, is his edgy alter ego, Nine, who scored three touchdowns in his NFL return after missing five straight games this season due to a high ankle sprain.
“It really kind of started to show up this year, and it came about last year during IR,” said McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus.
“Just never had a full season, where you want to be out there so freaking bad, but you can’t. It was just this built-up anger that was kind of ready to just explode, and I chose to harness it instead of letting it go into a self-destructive kind of way.”
The Vikings’ 10th overall pick in last year’s draft, McCarthy watched from the sideline in 2024 as veteran journeyman Sam Darnold revived his career with a 14-3 campaign.
When Darnold joined the Seahawks in free agency on a $100.5 million deal, it was McCarthy’s turn to take the reins.
What is there about Giants edger ushers and their fixation with single-digit jersey numbers?
Cade Cunningham, almost inarguably the best player in the East this season, is likely out for the remainder of the regular season. That’s the word out of Detroit following the depressing news that Cunningham punctured a lung when he took a knee to his side Tuesday from Washington’s Tre Johnson while chasing a loose ball.
Legal problems continue to follow ex-NHLer Billy Tibbetts.
After legendary Mets broadcaster Howie Rose announced his retirement Thursday, he took to social media to send a message to fans in Queens.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The special teams battle was up for grabs Thursday night.
There’s an intangible part of Jose Alvarado’s game that could be crucial for the Knicks.
PORT ST. LUCIE — One less familiar voice will be heard over the Mets’ airwaves next season.
Carson Wentz impressed the Vikings enough in 2025 that they decided to bring him back, raising further questions about J.J. McCarthy’s future.
Wednesday was another positive day at Yankees camp. For the first time since March 6, 2025 — an outing in which he knew “something wasn’t right,” which began a weeks-long saga that ended on the operating table for Tommy John surgery — Gerrit Cole was back on a mound and facing hitters in game action.
That’s an easy way to get thrown out of the arena.
A little over four years after reaching the Super Bowl, Logan Wilson is calling it a career.
Karl-Anthony Towns has not been shy about letting it be known that he believes he is sacrificing for the team.