Sports

Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack is edging closer to a return to the team's lineup.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh announced at his Wednesday press conference that Mack will return to practice in some fashion. The move opens Mack's window to return from injured reserve and he can be activated at any point in the next 21 days.

Mack has missed the last four games with an elbow injury, which makes this the first week that he's been eligible to return. He had a sack in the Chargers' Week 2 win over the Raiders before suffering his injury.

The Chargers will remain without left tackle Joe Alt (ankle) and right tackle Trey Pipkins (knee), but Harbaugh said he expects wide receiver Quentin Johnston (hamstring) to practice after missing Week 6.

On Monday, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell had nothing to say about the identity of his starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Eagles. On Wednesday, O'Connell was asked again where things stand.

"They stand in the same place they did Monday, when I answered that question," O'Connell said.

Still, it's clear that J.J. McCarthy is doing more work as he recovers from a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 2. O'Connell said that both Carson Wentz and McCarthy "will get reps" this week.

As to McCarthy, O'Connell said, "I think the big thing is just getting him back on the grass in uniform practicing. Getting real live reps of a pass rush and, you know, taking drops and applying some of the things that he's worked really hard on as of late as he's kind of gotten to that phase of his rehab, applying it, and then when he does that, you know, instant dialogue about what he's able to do and what it felt like and, 'Hey, let's log that away.' And then if he doesn't, the same thing. It's, you know, it's going to be — I'm having a blast kind of coaching him. It started kind of last week when he was able to really start ramping up a little bit as he gets there and, you know, that one-on-one work, and then obviously the work he does with [quarterbacks coach] Josh [McCown] and [assistant quarterbacks coach] Jordan [Traylor] is going to be critical."

O'Connell also agreed that his time spent during the bye week with McCarthy "did feel like" the most one-on-one work O'Connell has done with the second-year quarterback. O'Connell said that he hopes to do more of that as the head coach balances the various requirements of running the entire team.

Previously, O'Connell made it clear that McCarthy won't play until he's fully healthy and able to fully prepare. If both quarterbacks will be getting first-team reps in advance of Sunday's game against the Eagles, neither will be as prepared as they could be.

The other consideration, in our view, is the locker room. Specifically, the most important non-quarterback in the locker room. Receiver Justin Jefferson had a pair of 120-plus-yard games in Europe with Wentz. Jefferson may prefer to keep the Wentz Wagon rolling.

Ultimately, the Vikings may have to balance short-term winning vs. long-term development of a potential franchise quarterback. If the goal is to beat Philly and move to 4-2, the best play could be to keep playing Wentz.

Wide receiver Puka Nacua will miss the first Rams practice of the week.

Nacua injured his ankle in last Sunday's win over the Ravens and head coach Sean McVay told reporters that he will not take part in practice on Wednesday. McVay called Nacua day-to-day on Monday and said he did not appear to have a long-term injury, but reports have indicated that the wideout is unlikely to play in Week 7 against the Jaguars.

The Rams have a bye in Week 8, which would give Nacua an extended time to recover while only missing one game.

McVay said that running back Blake Corum and right tackle Rob Havenstein will also miss practice as they nurse ankle injuries. Wide receiver Tutu Atwell (hamstring) is expected to be a limited participant after missing the Ravens game.