EAGAN, Minn. — J.J. McCarthy will be making his return to practice.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell spoke with media members Monday afternoon, about 14 hours after the team had returned to Minnesota from London.

O'Connell announced McCarthy will start ramping back up after being sidelined with a high ankle sprain. O'Connell noted the QB will stay in town during the team's Week 6 bye as he works toward his return to action.

"It will be this week. He'll be here. We'll be able to get him some extensive work, kind of as we lead into next week, and then I anticipate his workload building up," O'Connell explained. "We're going to really take advantage of that bonus Monday, not only with him, but with our whole team.

"I'm excited to get back here, you know, J.J. got some work today, and he'll get some work throughout the rest of the week," he added. "We've got some other guys he'll be getting some work with on the field, and then we'll pick it up officially next week. But I'm encouraged about where he's at right now."

O'Connell later mentioned McCarthy's "had some real moments of growth" while rehabbing his injury, taking mental reps and learning from Carson Wentz.

"I think he's kind of taken a lot of that, just watching closely and my dialogue with him," O'Connell said, "but I think the most critical part is going to be the techniques and fundamentals of playing the position the way he worked so hard to build up throughout the spring and the summer.

"I think it's going to more about the physical side of his lower-body mechanics and then just trying to put together a game plan for him throughout practices: 'How much can he do? 'What's the soreness level coming out of practices?' To be able to try to have the most consistent level of a ramp-up as we can," O'Connell added.

Wentz suffered a left shoulder injury just before halftime Sunday but was able to finish the game, going 9-for-9 with 71 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown pass to Jordan Addison with 25 seconds left, on Minnesota's final possession.

O'Connell said Wentz was experiencing shoulder soreness and was undergoing more tests as of Monday's media session.

Here are two other takeaways from O'Connell's media session:

1. Additional injury updates

Beyond McCarthy getting back on the field, O'Connell announced that Donovan Jackson and Michael Jurgens will return. The team also plans to open the 21-day practice window for Blake Cashman, who landed on Injured Reserve after suffering a hamstring injury at Chicago in the season's opener.

"Getting some positives here at the bye," O'Connell said. "It comes at a big-time moment for us, where we've obviously had some adversity from an injury standpoint, and we'll continue to work through that.

"But I like the way guys have stepped up and the way our team has battled throughout these first five weeks, and we go into the bye at a critical time where there's still a lot of things we can improve," he continued. "But most importantly, getting healthy will be a critical thing."

Jurgens also has been rehabbing a hamstring injury that he suffered in Week 4. Jackson played through a wrist injury in Week 3 to help Minnesota defeat Cincinnati and underwent a surgical repair Sept. 29.

2. Kudos to the offensive line

O'Connell once again tipped his cap to Minnesota's offensive line. The patchwork group that played Sunday (Will Fries was the only starter who played the whole game) displayed toughness and versatility.

"I thought Blake Brandel, for his first time playing center, the tape really personified everything we think of Blake, and have, from a versatility standpoint," O'Connell said. "But for him to step in and run the show the way he did, communicated and played with physicality and technique, was a real positive for Blake."

O'Connell said rookie Joe Huber played well in his first start at left guard, and he also appreciated Justin Skule's versatility in starting at right tackle, then sliding to left tackle to spell Christian Darrisaw, who started but was on a "pitch count" of sorts after playing all 76 snaps against Pittsburgh in Dublin.

"Then Walter Rouse stepping in [at right tackle], as well," O'Connell added. "Was good to see him ready to meet that moment."

With Ryan Kelly (concussion) now on Injured Reserve, will Jurgens return as the starting center, or will Brandel continue to handle the role?

That remains to be answered.

"I think what we learned is, we have another high-quality center with Blake, and getting Jurgens back practicing again will give us a chance to assess what the best five looks like," O'Connell said. "That's what we'll go with, and we'll work through that accordingly. But Blake had a really, really strong day."

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