Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Misses Practice for Son’s Birth

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy missed practice to be with his fiancée, Katya Kuropas, during the birth of their first child, a baby boy. McCarthy, who recently led the Vikings to a dramatic 27-24 comeback win over the Chicago Bears in his NFL debut, was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. The couple, high school sweethearts from Nazareth Academy, announced the pregnancy in May and got engaged after McCarthy won a national title with Michigan in January 2024. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell expressed excitement about the birth and clarified that McCarthy’s absence was not injury-related. Despite his early struggles in the game, McCarthy’s leadership in the fourth quarter solidified his role as the team's starting quarterback following the departure of veteran Sam Darnold. McCarthy is expected to be available for the Vikings' upcoming games as he balances his new role as a father and NFL starter.