J.J. McCarthy was drafted to be the Minnesota Vikings’ franchise quarterback, but the path since 2024 has been anything but smooth. He missed his entire rookie season without taking a single snap due to a knee injury, and Year 2 was supposed to mark a fresh start. Instead, it’s been a mess: 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a revolving door of injuries.
Now, just as Minnesota prepares for a pivotal Christmas Day clash with the Detroit Lions, McCarthy finds himself sidelined once more.
What Happened to J.J. McCarthy?
McCarthy will miss Minnesota’s upcoming matchup against Detroit after further testing revealed a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed the injury surfaced after Sunday’s win over the Giants, despite initial X-rays coming back clean.
Surgery isn’t required, but with a short turnaround to the Christmas slate, McCarthy won’t have enough time to regain his grip strength.
The injury occurred in the second quarter against New York, though the exact moment remains unclear. McCarthy finished the half before reporting pain on the sideline, telling O’Connell he couldn’t properly grip the ball after a fumble on a sack just before halftime. With Detroit looming on Thursday, the team pivoted quickly, knowing recovery would likely extend beyond the week.
It’s another frustrating setback in a season that hasn’t gone smoothly for McCarthy. Through nine appearances in 2025, he ranks 40th on PFSN’s QB Impact metric, and Week 17 will mark the seventh game he’s missed this year. Dating back to his college days, injuries have been a recurring theme, including a torn meniscus that wiped out his entire rookie NFL season in 2024.
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O’Connell didn’t hide his disappointment, noting how much progress McCarthy had begun to show before the injury. The coach emphasized McCarthy’s competitiveness and toughness, pointing out that several of his injuries only became apparent after games.
“It’s just a bummer. The most fun part of this, and the most real part of it, is coaching the young player on his journey where we’ve really started to see some things click for him.”
O’Connell added: “Most of the time he’s ended up missing time, he’s either stayed in the game or we find out the next day just because he’s such a competitor and always wants to stay in the game, which I value so tremendously at that position.”
Whether McCarthy can return for the regular-season finale against Green Bay will depend entirely on how quickly his grip strength comes back.
That opens the door once again for undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who will make his second career NFL start. Brosmer stepped in against the Giants and was efficient, completing 7-of-9 passes for 52 yards and leading a key 14-play scoring drive that helped seal the win. His calm, relieved appearance earned him the nod for Thursday.
Still, expectations are measured. Brosmer’s only previous start came in a rough outing at Seattle, where he threw four interceptions in a shutout loss. However, his college résumé is substantial, including a record-setting season at Minnesota in 2024, following his transfer from New Hampshire.
For the Vikings, the hope is simple: steady play, ball security, and giving the team a chance while McCarthy works toward getting healthy again.
