Lamar Jackson and JJ McCarthy are set to take the field again in Week 9 after lingering injuries. And the GOAT Tom Brady called them both out. On his show Story Time with Tom, the seven-time champion broke down what comes next for both signal-callers.

Brady was asked what it’s like for a quarterback to return from injury after missing meaningful time. His response turned straight into a challenge. 

“It’s going to be a huge boost for both teams getting a starting quarterback,” Brady said. “Certainly, Lamar in the season he’s had and being out the last few weeks, that team needs him to show up and play his best football down the stretch.” 

Brady kept it pretty straightforward. Baltimore’s offense has stumbled without Jackson, and the Ravens sit 2-5, desperate for a turnaround. Before his hamstring injury sidelined him, Jackson was quietly torching defenses. 

Through just four games this season, he’s posted some incredible stats. 71.6% completion rate, a 10.5 touchdown percentage, and a 130.5 passer rating. Those numbers surpass even his 2024 season, where he led the NFL with an 8.6 touchdown percentage and 119.6 passer rating.

But the question remains: can he stay on the field and carry the Ravens back into contention?

As Brady hinted, “He’s already played amazing this year, played incredible last year, but what he was doing this year to have the type of quarterback rating that he had but not the win was crazy, but it just shows that this team can get healthy and Lamar can play good. You never know what can happen in the second half of the season.”

Then came the other side of the Brady bulletin, directed at McCarthy and the struggling Minnesota Vikings.

“JJ McCarthy team has certainly struggled and trying to find their way without him. They had high expectations for him when they drafted him, but it just hasn’t played out yet,” Brady said.

The rookie out of Michigan hasn’t exactly lit up the stat sheet. 58.5% passing, two touchdowns, three picks, and a 21.5 QBR. But with Carson Wentz undergoing shoulder surgery, the Vikings have no choice but to throw McCarthy back into the fire against the Detroit Lions this Sunday.

But returning from injury hits different. And Brady knows that from experience.

Tom Brady gets candid about the emotional comeback

When asked how Lamar and McCarthy will feel stepping onto the field again, Brady didn’t hold back.

 “It’s going to be emotional,” Brady said. “When you miss games and see your teammates out there fighting on the field without you, there’s something inside you as a competitor that wants you to go out there and join the fight with them.”

Brady reached back to his comeback moment to explain the situation.

“I was only injured seriously one time and I came back in 2009 after an ACL injury in 2008,” he recalled. “That first game we played at home against Buffalo, and I had so many jitters in the pregame, and I finally got out there took about a quarter set on the game. We won on a last minute comeback as you can imagine and I was probably one of the most excited I’ve ever been at the end of a game.” 

For Lamar, that emotion has already shown. As he said this week, he “can’t wait to touch the grass” with his guys. He also explained that you don’t want to rush an injury and be “out for the whole season.” A cautious comeback, but a long-awaited one for Baltimore.

And McCarthy echoed the same energy on Wednesday after practice: “Just finished up a great practice. Felt like there was a lot that we did well and a lot that we’ve got to improve on this week…It’ll be great to see where we stack up against [the Lions].” 

So, two different players and quarterbacks, both ready to make their comeback. And both have the same message from the GOAT himself: bounce back and show the league what you’ve got.