A quarterback switch, a difficult road environment, and a team looking for stability, the Minnesota Vikings’ trip to the Seattle Seahawks arrives with real stakes.
The Vikings will start an undrafted rookie while their first-round pick sits, and the timing of the move could shape how December unfolds for a roster still searching for rhythm.
Why Is J.J. McCarthy Not Playing? Latest Injury Update
J.J. McCarthy was ruled out for Week 13 after entering the NFL’s concussion protocol during last week’s loss against the Green Bay Packers. On consecutive fourth-quarter plays, his head hit the turf after tackles by Isaiah McDuffie and Kingsley Enagbare; McCarthy self-reported symptoms on the flight home and has remained in protocol. Minnesota subsequently confirmed it will turn to Max Brosmer in Seattle, while McCarthy sits for a sixth game this season.
The performance backdrop has been difficult. In that Packers game, McCarthy threw two interceptions and finished with a season-low 87 passing yards and a 34.2 passer rating, the worst of his career. Across his six starts this year, he has more interceptions than touchdowns in four of them. Availability has also been a factor: he missed over a month earlier in the season due to a high ankle sprain before returning in November.
As of Sunday morning, McCarthy remained in the protocol and was not cleared to play. The team’s depth chart has thinned, with multiple injuries shaping the quarterback room and increasing the urgency to steady the offense ahead of a hostile road test.
Max Brosmer Starts as QB1 Over J.J. McCarthy vs. Seahawks in Week 13
Max Brosmer, 24, will make his first NFL start for the Vikings. He joined Minnesota as an undrafted free agent after one season at the University of Minnesota, where he completed 66.8% of his passes for 2,617 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions, following a standout FCS run at New Hampshire that included 3,464 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final season. He made the roster as the third-string quarterback and has appeared in three games, going 5-for-8 for 42 yards.
During a Saturday SportsCenter segment, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said, “The Vikings know that they have something in Max Brosmer. They felt like he had a really good preseason. I talked to multiple teams who said he was cool, calm, and collected in the preseason. He’s an undrafted free agent, so the expectations aren’t overly high. But I’m told just from a mental preparation standpoint, he’s been really good, and they feel like, hey, maybe something can happen here.”
Steve Mariucci predicts that @Vikings QB Max Brosmer will throw for 485 yards today 😳 pic.twitter.com/h11rimHcRq
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) November 30, 2025
He added, “That’s a lot of expectation to put on this guy (regarding comparing Brosmer to Purdy). However, there is some symmetry here when you have Kevin O’Connell’s offense. They’ve got weapons.” And: “They feel like, at the very least, he’s going to be probably more mentally prepared than they’ve had this season with the struggles of J.J. McCarthy.”
The Brock Purdy parallel raised in that segment is about the pathway more than the projection. Brosmer arrives without a draft pedigree but with processing and preparation traits that can matter in a timing-based system.
The immediate test is Seattle’s defense and environment: handling pressure looks, managing the operation, and protecting the ball in a venue that punishes mistakes. Minnesota’s plan remains week-to-week. McCarthy’s progress through concussion protocol will dictate his return, and the staff will evaluate how Brosmer executes in his first start before deciding on next steps for Week 14 and beyond.
