Just two days out from their Christmas Day showdown with the Detroit Lions, the Minnesota Vikings have made it official: rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy won’t be suiting up. Head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that McCarthy is dealing with a hairline fracture in his throwing hand, and that means Max Brosmer will get the start under center in Week 17.
McCarthy suffered the injury late in the second quarter of Minnesota’s gritty 16-13 win over the New York Giants on Sunday. He didn’t return for the second half, and now, for the third time this season, he’ll be sidelined due to injury. It’s been a tough rookie campaign for the former first-round pick, who’s already missed time with a high ankle sprain early in the year and a concussion that kept him out of a game last month.
The good news for the Vikings? O’Connell said McCarthy won’t be placed on injured reserve, which leaves the door open for a potential return in Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers. But for now, it’s Brosmer’s show - and it’s a high-stakes moment for the young quarterback.
This will be Brosmer’s second career NFL start, and it comes with plenty of pressure. His first outing, a fill-in start against the Seattle Seahawks while McCarthy was in concussion protocol, was one to forget. Brosmer threw four interceptions and the Vikings’ offense was completely shut down in a 26-0 loss - a performance that, statistically, ranked among the worst offensive showings in franchise history.
Now, he’ll get a chance to redeem himself in front of the home crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium during the team’s “Winter Whiteout” game.
It’s a big stage, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Vikings are still fighting for playoff positioning, and they’ll need Brosmer to show growth, poise, and a short memory.
Backing him up will be veteran John Wolford, who steps into the QB2 role with McCarthy unavailable.
For Minnesota, this Christmas Day matchup was already shaping up to be a challenge. The Lions bring a physical, playoff-caliber squad into town, and now the Vikings will try to keep pace with their backup quarterback leading the charge.
If Brosmer can settle in, protect the football, and make a few plays, the Vikings might just stay in the fight. But there’s no question - the spotlight is on, and it’s Brosmer’s turn to answer the call.