Max

Brosmer

The Vikings will see how McCarthy’s grip strength is at the end of the week. It still feels like it’s more likely that McCarthy sits if they’re only really going to check him at week’s end, but the door is at least cracked a little for a Week 18 return against Green Bay. If McCarthy sits again, Max Brosmer will likely get to close out the season with his unique sack-taking stylings. O’Connell did notably say that he wants all quarterbacks (including John Wolford and Brett Rypien) to be “ready to play.”

McCarthy was sidelined for Week 17’s game against the Lions due to a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. The Vikings don’t have anything to play for in the season finale, so there will be little reason to force McCarthy back onto the field if he’s not at or close to 100 percent. The Vikings will evaluate him in the weeks leading up to next week’s game, but it wouldn’t be surprising if we saw Max Brosmer under center to close out a disappointing 2025 campaign for the Vikes.

No thank you. Brosmer could start the finale against the Packers if JJ McCarthy isn’t able to play. The FAAB bids on the Green Bay defense should be borderline incalculable if that happens.

The Seahawks dud was understandable — they have arguably the best defense in the NFL this year. But Brosmer didn’t exactly light it up against the Giants in relief in Week 16, and the Lions play aggressive coverage. Brosmer is yet another governor on the fantasy prospects of players like Aaron Jones, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison in Week 17. “Boy, we wish Carson Wentz was still healthy,” we unbelievably thought.

No surprise on a short week. McCarthy apparently has a chance to play in Week 18 based on Ian Rapoport’s reporting, but we can’t exactly circle that for a fact just yet. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said McCarthy will not need surgery for the “very small” fracture, perhaps the smallest we’ve ever heard of. It’s been an injury-plagued, disastrous year for the 2024 tenth overall pick. The Vikings almost have to bring in real competition for him in 2026 based on what we’ve seen so far. Max Brosmer should be in line for a Week 17 start and can be started in superflex leagues by sadomasochistic managers.

We are still waiting for an official word on McCarthy’s injury after it was reported earlier that he would undergo an MRI. Monday’s DNP isn’t a good sign for his Week 17 availability against the Lions, but there’s still time for things to change. If he’s unable to go, Max Brosmer would be in line to make his second career start. Brosmer threw four interceptions in his first start and would not be on the fantasy radar in any format if he gets the nod.

X-rays on McCarthy’s hand reportedly came back negative for a broken bone. McCarthy will undergo an MRI to determine the exact nature of the injury that knocked him out of Week 16’s game against the Giants, but if the MRI doesn’t reveal anything severe, we would expect him to have a chance to suit up in Week 17 against the Lions. If McCarthy is unable to go, Max Brosmer would make his second career start.

Brosmer took over for J.J. McCarthy after halftime. The latter suffered a hand injury on his final snap of the first half and was quickly ruled out. Per The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling, McCarthy is not believed to have suffered any broken bones. He will undergo further testing on Monday. Brosmer will likely draw the start in Week 17, though McCarthy can’t be ruled out entirely just yet. Neither quarterback will be on the QB2 radar for the final week of the fantasy football season.

McCarthy suffered the hand injury while taking a punishing sack from Brian Burns at the end of the first half. He didn’t see Burns coming and was decked, losing the ball in the process. New York recovered it and took it to the house for a touchdown. McCarthy left the game right after the play and was ruled out during halftime. Max Brosmer will take his place in the lineup in the second half.

Wolford’s signing likely means that he’ll be the backup quarterback for JJ McCarthy for Week 14 against the Commanders, with Max Brosmer the emergency third quarterback.