After missing several games due to an ankle injury, the Minnesota Vikings are expected to have J.J. McCarthy back under center. Moreover, his arrival comes at the right time, considering Carson Wentz’s 2025 NFL season
is done due to a shoulder injury.
Whether Minnesota can bounce back with a Week 9 win over the Detroit Lions and push for the playoffs in the NFC remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the Vikings will hope that McCarthy can stay healthy for the remainder of the season to see what they have in the player.
Ahead of the second-year quarterback’s return against the Lions, wideout Justin Jefferson spoke with the media on October 30 to discuss what it’s like having the young signal caller back as QB1.
“Looks good,” Jefferson told reporters. “Just going through the plays, going through the motions, dialing up the connection, and, of course, expanding the relationship that we have out there
on the field. So it’s been great. I feel like he has the confidence to go out there and do what we expect him to do.
“It’s just all about having that energy and thinking about one play at a time—not thinking about the big play, making the best play of the game, or being perfect throughout the game. It’s just all about taking one play at a time, leaning on everybody in the offense to go to work, and just lead us. And that’s pretty much the main message to him.”
Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Talks J.J. McCarthy’s Return
Along with Jefferson’s remarks about the Michigan product’s return, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell offered his perspective on McCarthy’s current mindset.
“J.J. is in a good spot,”
O’Connell told KFAN’s Paul Allen. “He had some really good work [on October 27] and should get a full week of preparation. He finally feels truly ready to go be himself—not just in his ability to function at the position, but also in the things J.J.
“McCarthy can bring to our offense: his mobility and his ability to protect himself, which comes from playing with great timing and rhythm from the pocket. He also has the ability to create and do some things off the schedule of the play.”
Can J.J. McCarthy Help the Vikings Reach the Playoffs?
Despite McCarthy’s return for the game against the Lions, one NFL expert doesn’t believe this will boost their playoff chances. CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson said he isn’t confident about the team’s position at the season’s midpoint.
“This ain’t where you want to be at the midway point of the season,“ Wilson said on the October 27 edition of “CBS Sports HQ.” “No doubt about it. And again, last year
this time, we were having conversations about Sam Darnold as the MVP, which is sort of funny to say, but he played that well. That team played that well.
“The other thing to keep in mind is that the Brian Flores defense hasn’t looked quite like the Brian Flores defense we saw a year ago. They’ve been exposed at times, most recently on Thursday night, where we saw the offensive line, which has also struggled with injuries.
We saw Carson Wentz take another beating that led to him landing on IR.
“But you compound the issues with the offensive line struggling to stay healthy and then the defense not playing at the level that it played at a year ago. And you take that all together with a young and/or rookie quarterback, should Max Brosmer have to
play. And this is where you find yourself, and there’s very little room for error.”
Josh Allen’s Heartfelt Gesture: Paying It Forward to the Diner That Helped Him Dream
In the small town of Corona, California, a gesture of generosity has not only saved a beloved local diner but also brought a tear to the eyes of its owners and customers alike.
Josh Allen, the 29-year-old quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, recently paid $87,000 to save Sunny’s Diner, a family-run establishment that had supported him during his high school years when he needed it most.
Sunny’s Diner, a fixture in the community for decades, had been struggling to stay afloat, burdened by debts from the financial toll of the pandemic and rising operational costs. When Allen, a rising star and one of the Bills’ most promising players, learned that the diner was on the verge of closing, he knew he had to act. With no fanfare, Allen quietly wired the money to cover the diner’s debt, ensuring its survival. But his generosity didn’t stop there.
Allen wanted to give something more—a symbolic gesture that captured the essence of what Sunny’s Diner meant to him. When he visited the diner after making the payment, he presented a handmade sign, which now proudly hangs on the wall of the diner. The sign reads:
“A home for those who fueled my dreams every morning.” Maria and Tony Alvarez, the couple who owns the diner, were overwhelmed with emotion when they saw the sign, which Allen had dedicated to the place that had helped him when he was a struggling high school student.
For three years, while attending Firebaugh High School, Allen had visited Sunny’s Diner every morning before school. Coming from a modest background, he relied on the warm hospitality and free breakfasts offered by the Alvarez family. “We saw something special in Josh,” Maria Alvarez recalls. “He was always polite, always focused. We just wanted to help him keep going.” The kindness of the Alvarezes allowed Allen to focus on his dreams of becoming a professional football player. He would have pancakes, eggs, and a side of encouragement before heading off to school, and the diners’ unwavering belief in him fueled his determination on the field.
Now, a major league star, Allen’s act of kindness has come full circle. By saving the diner that helped him rise, he’s not only ensured Sunny’s Diner can continue operating, but he’s also breathed new life into the community staple. The sign, a tribute to the role the diner played in his journey, has become a local point of pride, with many patrons stopping to read it and reflect on Allen’s remarkable gesture. The sign has sparked a wave of support for Sunny’s Diner, with local businesses offering to help, and social media posts flooding platforms with the hashtag #SunnysDiner.
The community has rallied behind the diner, sharing the story of Allen’s selflessness and creating a renewed sense of pride in their local gem. The diner’s Facebook page has seen a surge in engagement, with customers posting photos of their meals and the sign, spreading the heartwarming story of how a football star never forgot the kindness that helped him dream.
Allen’s story is not just about a famous athlete giving back; it’s about the power of small, meaningful acts of kindness. His own journey to success has been marked by his vulnerability, including openly sharing his struggles with mental health and challenges in his career. He has become a beacon of hope for many, not just for his football talent, but for his compassion and willingness to uplift others.
The Alvarezes have expressed their gratitude, not just for the financial relief, but for the renewed sense of purpose that Allen’s gift has given them. “We always thought we were just feeding people,” Maria says. “But Josh showed us we were doing more than that. We were helping dreams come true.”
As the sign at Sunny’s Diner now stands, it serves as a testament to the profound impact that generosity, both big and small, can have on the lives of others. Allen’s act of paying it forward ensures that the diner will continue to be a place of hope, encouragement, and, most importantly, a home for those who dream.
For Allen, the diner wasn’t just a place to eat—it was a lifeline, a place that believed in his potential when few others did. His return to Sunny’s, not just as a patron, but as a savior, is a full-circle moment in his journey. As customers come and go, they will always remember that this diner isn’t just a place for pancakes and coffee—it’s a place where dreams were fueled, and kindness was returned tenfold.
