The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 63 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE J .J. McCarthy is experiencing the ups and downs of an NFL season early in his first taste of being healthy in the league. Entering the season as the Minnesota Vi- kings' starting quarterback, the 22-year- old led an incredible fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Bears on Monday Night Football in Chicago, near his home- town of La Grange Park, Ill. One week later, he and the Vikings' offense strug- gled in the second game, and McCarthy went down with a high-ankle sprain and had to watch from the sideline once again. McCarthy, who missed the entirety of his rookie campaign with a knee in- jury, got off to a slow start in the season- opener against Chicago but put together a magical fourth quarter. The former Michigan signal-caller went 6-of-8 passing and put up 101 total yards and 3 touchdowns (2 passing, 1 rushing) to lead a comeback victory. The Vikings trailed 17-6 at the end of the third quarter, and McCarthy became the first NFL player to lead a 10-plus point fourth-quarter comeback in his debut since Steve Young in 1985. The belief was high from McCarthy, but also his teammates and coaches, and their excitement for the plays he made late in the game showed as they celebrated. Head man Kevin O'Connell was ecstatic when McCarthy rushed for a 14-yard score to go up 27-17 with just under three minutes to go in the 27-24 victory. "I told him at halftime: 'You are going to bring us back to win this game,' and the look in his eye was fantastic." The 6-foot-3, 219-pounder went 11- of-21 for 158 yards and 2 picks while tak- ing 6 sacks in a 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the Vikings' home opener the following week, though, injuring his ankle and setting back his season. He missed the third contest of the year and is slated to remain out for multiple more weeks, per reports. FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NFL Through Sept. 22 • AJ Barner (2023), TE, Seattle Seahawks: Hauled in 4 catches for 49 yards in three games for the 2-1 Seahawks. • Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OG, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Started all three outings at center for the 3-0 Buccaneers, registering a 54.8 over- all Pro Football Focus rating. • Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Cleveland Browns: Ranked second on the 1-2 Browns with 22 tackles, adding 2 for loss and a sack in three starts. • Zach Charbonnet (2019-20), RB, Seattle Seahawks: Rushed 27 times for 57 yards and a touchdown in the first two games, before miss- ing the third with a foot injury. • Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Tex- ans: Exploded for 8 catches, 104 yards and a touchdown in a 20-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars Sept. 21 … Totaled 14 grabs for a team- best 181 yards and 2 scores in three games for the 0-3 Texans. • Blake Corum (2020-23), RB, Los Angeles Rams: Racked up 99 rushing yards and his first career touchdown on 14 carries and caught 1 pass for 14 yards in three bench appearances for the 2-1 Rams. • Mike Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs: Missed the 1-2 Chiefs' most recent game, a victory over the New York Giants, with injury but has posted 2 tackles, including 1 for loss, in two starts. • Rashan Gary (2016-18), DL, Green Bay Packers: Posted at least a sack in all three games for the 2-1 Packers, totaling 4.5 for the season … Added 16 tackles and 4 TFL with 13 pressures. • Graham Glasgow (2012-15), OL, Detroit Lions: Opened all three games at center for the 2-1 Lions, producing a 52.4 overall PFF grade that ranks last on the Detroit offense among those with over 5 snaps. • Mason Graham (2022-24), DT, Cleveland Browns: Recorded 11 tackles with 1 for loss and 6 pressures in three starts for the 1-2 Browns … His 43 percent pass-rush win rate in a victory over the Green Bay Packers Sept. 21 is well above the average of 9 percent for a defensive tackle, per ESPN. • Kenneth Grant (2022-24), DT, Miami Dol- phins: Totaled 8 tackles and a pass breakup in three games with two starts for the 0-3 Dol- phins. • Jaylen Harrell (2020-23), OLB, Tennessee Titans: Registered 4 tackles in three outings for the 0-3 Titans. • Hassan Haskins (2018-21), RB, Los Angeles Chargers: Hasn't had any carries or receptions but has returned 6 kicks with a 23.5-yard aver- age for the 3-0 Chargers. ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Highs And Lows For J.J. McCarthy McCarthy won NFC Player of the Week honors for his role in the Minnesota Vikings' 27-24 come- back win against the Bears in Week 1, but he went down with a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 of the NFL season. PHOTO BY ANDY KENUTIS/MINNESOTA VIKINGS