What’s your play call on third-and-5 from your own 28-yard line while protecting a late 27-24 lead at Detroit with a quarterback making his third career start? The Lions had one timeout remaining with 1:41 on the game clock when Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell sent in the play to McCarthy.

J.J. McCarthy’s personality is a shot of oxygen for a Vikings franchise that, since Fran Tarkenton, has spent decades trying out the wrong young QBs.

J.J. McCarthy, starting just his third game because of injuries, showed off his "blue-collar" mindset as he led the Vikings to an upset victory against the Lions.

The scene of quarterback J.J. McCarthy being mobbed by his teammates after barging into the visitor’s locker room on Sunday afternoon at Detroit’s Ford Field perfectly encapsulates how the Vikings seem to feel about their young signal caller.

The jury remained very much out on McCarthy prior to his Week 2 ankle injury. Sunday was a big step in the right direction for the second-year Vikings quarterback.

McCarthy appeared to answer those questions Sunday in the Vikings’ upset 27–24 win over the Lions at Ford Field. In his third career start, McCarthy threw for 143 yards with two touchdowns and one interception on 14-of-25 passing—good for an 82.6 passer rating.

With McCarthy finally making his return, the Vikings received huge injury news that is great for the young signal caller's return. NFL insider Ian Rapoport revealed inactives and actives for teams heading into Week 9, and the Vikings received some huge updates on two players that the team desperately needs.

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is back from the ankle injury that has sidelined him for most of this season, and he's looking good in Detroit. McCarthy has thrown two touchdown passes as the Vikings took a 17-14 lead over the Lions at halftime.