Minnesota Vikings quarterback, JJ McCarthy, against the Green Bay Packers on November 23rd 2025
After having had the most difficult quarterbacking season to date under the new regime of head coach, Kevin O’Connell, the Minnesota Vikings somehow managed to generate their worst quarterbacking performance of the season at the hands of undrafted free agent rookie QB, Max Brosmer, who filled in for the injured starter, JJ McCarthy in Week 13.
The team was shut out by the Seattle Seahawks, 26-0, as Brosmer threw four interceptions and managed just a total of 126 yards passing on the day.
Having likely gaining some newfound gratitude for the otherwise struggling McCarthy, Vikings fans received some good news the day after the game, as O’Connell revealed that the second year man was on track to start in Week 14, at home against the Washington Commanders.
J.J. McCarthy is symptom free, Kevin O’Connell says, and should emerge from the concussion protocol assuming he gets through a full practice Wednesday. He is their expected starter for Sunday’s game vs. Washington.
“J.J. McCarthy is symptom free, Kevin O’Connell says, and should emerge from the concussion protocol assuming he gets through a full practice Wednesday.” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert posted on X. “He is their expected starter for Sunday’s game vs. Washington.
McCarthy missed the routing against the Seahawks after having failed to progress through the necessary steps to be cleared from concussion protocol in time, having sustaining the injury in Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers. But now, all signs point to him being good to go for the weekend.
The news will not come as a major shock for Vikings fans. On Sunday night, O’Connell seemed to be fairly upbeat about the possibility of McCarthy re-entering the starting lineup.
“He is, as of right now [McCarthy is in concussion protocol], but we’ll see how he does [on December 1],” O’Connell said in his postgame presser after the loss to the Seahawks. “Our goal is [that] he clears and he can have a good week of practice and have an opportunity to play next week.”
Vikings Could Be More Eager To Return McCarthy Than Earlier In The Season
The team have been notoriously unwilling to risk the health of McCarthy throughout the duration of his sophomore season, choosing in back-to-back weeks earlier on in the year to have him as the emergency third quarterback behind the now-injured Carson Wentz and Brosmer in order to let him recover fully from his high-ankle sprain that kept him out for over a month after Week 2’s loss against the Atlanta Falcons.
So considering that he seems to be on track to return as the starter, there are probably no lingering issues – one would hope, at least.
Having said that, this could also be a product of Brosmer’s display this past weekend: when Wentz was performing well and winning games, the team could afford to take their time with McCarthy, whose early returns in weeks 1 and 2 had been less than awe-inspiring.
But perhaps now, with what O’Connell witnessed Sunday, his desire to bring back McCarthy as soon as possible could well be greater than what it was when Wentz was under center.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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Vikings Make Positive Announcement On JJ McCarthy For Week 14
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After having had the most difficult quarterbacking season to date under the new regime of head coach, Kevin O’Connell, the Minnesota Vikings somehow managed to generate their worst quarterbacking performance of the season at the hands of undrafted free agent rookie QB, Max Brosmer, who filled in for the injured starter, JJ McCarthy in Week […]
Vikings Make Positive Announcement On JJ McCarthy For Week 14