J.J. McCarthy out with fractured hand ahead of Christmas showdown
J.J. McCarthy will be sidelined when the Minnesota Vikings take on the Detroit Lions at 3:30 p.m. CT on Christmas Day. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that McCarthy has been ruled out for the Week 17 matchup due to a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. Fortunately, O’Connell indicated that the injury does not require surgery.
Injury Details
The injury occurred during Minnesota’s narrow 16-13 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday. While specifics surrounding the incident have been somewhat unclear, it appears that McCarthy injured his right hand when it collided with a Giants defender’s helmet during the follow-through of a pass attempt. This happened just two plays before he showcased his athleticism with a 12-yard rushing touchdown.
However, his luck would take a turn for the worse. On the subsequent possession, McCarthy found himself under pressure and was hit hard by an unblocked Brian Burns, resulting in a fumble that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Tyler Nubin, a former star for the Minnesota Gophers. Shortly after, McCarthy was attended to by team trainers on the sidelines and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Max Brosmer Takes the Helm
With McCarthy unavailable, the Vikings will turn to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer for his second start of the season. Brosmer had previously stepped into the starting role on November 30, when the Vikings faced a challenging defeat against Seattle, losing 26-0. In that game, he struggled significantly, completing just 19 of 30 passes for 126 yards, failing to throw a touchdown, and throwing four interceptions—one of the most challenging performances in recent memory.
Brosmer returned to action in the second half against the Giants after McCarthy’s injury, completing seven of his nine pass attempts for 52 yards. While he didn’t manage to find the end zone or throw an interception, he did face pressure, with one sack recorded against him.
As the Vikings prepare for their Christmas clash with the Lions, all eyes will be on Brosmer to see if he can elevate his game and lead Minnesota to a much-needed victory.
