Vikings Visit Lions as McCarthy Returns from Injury

The Detroit Lions return from their bye week to host the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, aiming to build on a 24-9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that left Detroit 5-2 on the season. The Vikings enter at 3-4 and are seeking to halt a three-game slide as both teams close the first half of their divisional slate.

Detroit’s defense, led by Aidan Hutchinson and a supporting cast that has performed well despite injuries, helped hold Tampa Bay to nine points in the Week 7 win. The victory moved the Lions to the top of several NFL power rankings and reinforced their standing as one of the NFC’s contenders. Offensively, Jared Goff threw for 241 yards and a touchdown to Amon-Ra St. Brown, while Jahmyr Gibbs continued to emerge as a key playmaker out of the backfield.

Minnesota will resume with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback after he missed five games with a high-ankle sprain. The Vikings placed backup Carson Wentz on injured reserve with a season-ending shoulder injury, leaving McCarthy as the immediate answer under center. McCarthy’s limited early-season tape showed flashes of playmaking ability but inconsistency, and his return will be a critical test...