Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy out vs. the Lions with a hairline fracture in his right hand

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss the team’s Christmas Day game against the Detroit Lions with a hairline fracture in his right throwing hand, coach Kevin O’Connell announced Dec. 23.

Rookie Max Brosmer will start in McCarthy’s place for the second time this season. O’Connell left McCarthy’s status for the Vikings’ season finale against the Green Bay Packers in two weeks up in the air.

McCarthy exited the Vikings’ Dec. 21 game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium shortly before halftime. X-rays were initially negative; the fracture was discovered with further imaging.

O’Connell said he does not believe the “very, very small” hairline fracture will require surgery and that recovery is “like a bone bruise.”

McCarthy was taken to the locker room by medical staff, his helmet off, minutes after what was logged as a strip-sack by Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns on a planned screen play to the left, where wide receiver Justin Jefferson was lined up. Giants safety Tyler Nubin recovered the fumble and returned it for a touchdown.

A close-up look at the film, though, showed the ball already coming loose from McCarthy’s hand before Burns made contact as he made a second pump as if to throw.

O’Connell said in his postgame news conference Dec. 21 that he believed — but did not have confirmation — the injury occurred before the strip-sack and even before McCarthy’s touchdown scramble with 2:01 to go in the second quarter. McCarthy appeared to hit his hand on a defender’s helmet during that drive.

O’Connell said McCarthy did not express discomfort between the two drives while on the sideline.

O’Connell added Dec. 23 that McCarthy gave “a pretty significant high-five” to Jefferson, indicating he did not seem uncomfortable, following his touchdown.

O’Connell said though there were “potential candidates” for when McCarthy suffered the injury, neither the team nor the quarterback was able to pinpoint an exact one. He did say McCarthy “felt it for real” on the play that ended with Nubin’s touchdown.

McCarthy was seen in the locker room after the game wearing a fingerless glove, but not a cast, on his right hand.

This is McCarthy’s third injury this season and fourth since the Vikings drafted him No. 10 overall in 2024.

Then, in Week 2 during his second career start, McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain against the Atlanta Falcons that landed him on injured reserve, and he missed another five games.

He also missed the Week 13 game against the Seattle Seahawks with a concussion.

O’Connell said he initially feared McCarthy’s injury to be worse based on the visible reaction he had while he was being evaluated by medical staff on the sideline.

“Most of the times he’s ended up missing time, he’s either stayed in the game or we find out the next day just ‘cause he’s such a competitor and always wants to stay in the game, which I value so tremendously at that position,” O’Connell said. “It was obviously very unfortunate because even though he didn’t know it at the time, he was unable to do his job, which obviously would’ve altered my thinking in the moment.”

O’Connell said McCarthy attended the team’s walk-through Dec. 23 and “wants to stay 100% locked-and-loaded in the hopes of returning next week,” but that the team will “be smart with him and see where it takes us.”

Brosmer, an undrafted former Gophers QB, has played six full quarters of regular-season football filling in for McCarthy.

He made his first start in the Vikings’ 26-0 loss to the Seahawks on Nov. 30, throwing four interceptions on 19-for-30 passing for 126 yards. He was 7-for-9 for 52 yards in the second half Dec. 21 in the 16-13 win over the Giants.

Brosmer said Dec. 23 that he’s focused more on fixing small issues than taking big leaps in his game between his two appearances, and that he has had support from both inside the Vikings’ facility and out of it in doing so.

Part of that is what Brosmer called a “great quarterback room” and a first-stringer in McCarthy who is an ally even when going through his own adversity.

“To show his character, he’s the first one out here cheering you on when it’s not him,” Brosmer said. “That speaks to the kind of man he is. The kind of quarterback he is in the facility, and the guys respect him for that. To have that from the room when I’m the guy this week, it’s really cool to see and have him in my corner.”

Running back Jordan Mason’s game status is up in the air. O’Connell said he did not want to rule Mason out but he’s “still feeling” the ankle injury that forced his exit early in the first quarter against the Giants.