Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy enters concussion protocol; status for Seattle game uncertain

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is in the concussion protocol after reporting symptoms during the Vikings’ travel home from Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday, coach Kevin O’Connell announced at his news conference Monday.

McCarthy’s availability for the Vikings’ trip to Seattle to face the Seahawks on Sunday is unclear.

O’Connell said it was “too early” to say whether undrafted free agent and former Gopher Max Brosmer would start against the Seahawks. The coach did say Brosmer will run the first-team offense at practice while McCarthy is in the protocol.

“I think it’s probably too early to tell that as far as the quarterback not really taking contact in practice and the different phases of the protocol, I think we just got to take it a day at a time and leave it to the medical professionals and the protocol that’s in place for a reason,” O’Connell said.

O’Connell noted that the Vikings will have a short practice on Thanksgiving Day and longer practices Wednesday and Friday.

McCarthy was evaluated Sunday night at TCO Performance Center after the Vikings returned from their 23-6 loss to the Packers in Green Bay. O’Connell declined to discuss the degree of McCarthy’s symptoms, deferring to medical staff and saying he wasn’t ready “to make any sort of designation for the game.”

O’Connell said the team, including McCarthy himself, had not yet pinpointed a specific play in which the concussion might have occurred, but he added that it “had to be late.” McCarthy was sacked five times in the game.

McCarthy’s second interception occurred two snaps later on an overthrown pass to Nailor.

This will be the second time this season McCarthy will miss at least practice because of an injury. He missed five games with a high ankle sprain, returning four weeks ago. He was also sidelined all of last season after sustaining a torn meniscus in a preseason game.

The Vikings have only won two games with McCarthy under center this season.

“He’s a competitive guy, he wants to win, but I think he also understands the big picture for himself and how important every moment is right now not only in the present, but for the time that’s been lost in some time-on-task side of things,” O’Connell said. “I think it’s very important that we just continue the principles of him playing the position the right way.”

Brosmer served as the No. 2 quarterback while Carson Wentz was starting in McCarthy’s place. Wentz was put on injured reserve Oct. 27 and recently had season-ending shoulder surgery.

Brosmer was 35-for-58 for 364 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the preseason.

“Ton of confidence in Max,” O’Connell said. “All he’s done since he’s been here is show up every single day and respond and answer the bell, whether it’s stepping in for some reps when guys were dinged up previously this year with the first group. … Ideally, you’d love to have a bunch of runway for him to continue on his journey, but I know Max will prepare like crazy, like he does every week.”

Should Brosmer start Sunday, the Seahawks defense at Lumen Field in Seattle would make for a difficult debut. Seattle has nine interceptions this season, four forced and recovered fumbles, and two fumble recovery touchdowns.

The Seahawks are also fourth in the NFL in sacks with 36, and the Vikings could be without the entire starting left side of their offensive line. O’Connell did not have an update Monday on left tackle Christian Darrisaw (foot) and left guard Donovan Jackson (ankle), who both exited early from the Packers game.

Besides Brosmer, the Vikings currently have only one other quarterback who could be available if McCarthy is not. They signed John Wolford to their practice squad Oct. 29, shortly after it was announced Wentz would have shoulder surgery.

As for the possible addition of another quarterback, O’Connell said the depth at various positions on the practice squad would be evaluated and that he believed General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s group would be looking at the situation, too.

In other injury news, O’Connell said there was not yet an update on safety Josh Metellus, who finished Sunday’s game but made two trips to the sideline medical tent. O’Connell said outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who missed his second straight game with a left shoulder injury, will work through the week again and they will “see how he does.”