Vikings Quarterback JJ McCarthy Enters Concussion Protocol
After a tough game against the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy finds himself in concussion protocol. His status for Week 13 is now up in the air, as head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that McCarthy will be undergoing the necessary evaluations this week.
According to reports, McCarthy began showing signs of a concussion during the team’s flight back from Green Bay, following a disappointing 23-6 loss.
If he’s unable to play on Sunday, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will likely step in. This comes after Carson Wentz, who was previously filling in for McCarthy, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury earlier this year.
This season has been eventful for McCarthy, especially since he missed his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus. He was a first-round pick—specifically, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft—but his performance this year hasn’t quite met expectations. He has only played in six games due to an upper ankle sprain sustained in Week 2, causing him to miss five games before his return.
The Vikings are currently on a three-game losing streak, and McCarthy’s last outing against the Packers wasn’t impressive—he completed just 12 of 19 passes for 87 yards and threw two interceptions, all while being sacked five times.
After the game, McCarthy expressed his frustration, stating, “We’ve got to be better. There are a lot of things we need to do better.” Last season, the Vikings had a successful run with a record of 14-3 under Sam Darnold, but this year things have taken a downturn to a 4-7 record. It’s somewhat ironic that Darnold is set to play against the Vikings this week with the Seattle Seahawks, yet McCarthy may have to sit out another game.
In the limited time he has been on the field, McCarthy has managed to throw six touchdowns but also has ten interceptions, with a completion rate of 54.1%. It feels like he’s still searching for stability as a quarterback, maybe even looking to redeem himself with more consistent plays going forward.
