Late in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Giants in New Jersey, Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a right hand injury on a sack/fumble caused by linebacker Brian Burns. McCarthy exited the game and did not return.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, X-rays were negative. However, imaging tests will be performed in Minnesota to determine the extent of the injury.
With two games left in a lost season, the question becomes whether the Vikings should shut McCarthy down and keep him healthy. But the Vikings have two spoiler games at home remaining, against the Lions on Christmas and against the Packers to end the season. With three wins in a row and a chance to complicate things for a pair of divisional rivals, the Vikings may be inclined, if it’s close, to let McCarthy try to finish the season with another victory or two.
If McCarthy can’t go, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will get his second career start in four days.
For now, the imaging tests will be important. Especially since the injury is to the hand with which he throws the ball.
The Vikings were devastated by injuries today against the Giants. But they still won 16-13 on a day when Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart could not do anything.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was knocked out of the game with a hand injury. Running back Jordan Mason was carted off with an ankle injury. And center Ryan Kelly exited with a concussion.
But with the offense beaten up, the defense stepped up. Brian Burns forced a McCarthy fumble that Tyler Nubin returned for a touchdown just before halftime, and the combination of that and three Will Reichard field goals gave the Giants all the points they needed.
Dart was awful. He completed just seven of 13 passes for 33 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception and that costly fumble. He also lost 20 yards on five sacks, giving the Giants a grand total of 13 passing yards on the game.
Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka has done nothing to indicate that he’s developing Dart properly, and the Giants face major questions heading into the offseason about whether they have the right quarterback, and where they’ll find the right coach for him.
The Vikings also have major questions about McCarthy. And Kelly’s concussion is a major concern, given that it’s the sixth of his career. A lot went wrong for Minnesota today.
But enough went right that they pulled out a win.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is injured again.
McCarthy suffered a hand injury when he was strip-sacked by Giants pass rusher Brian Burns just before halftime and was ruled out for the rest of the game at the start of the second half.
It continues a disturbing pattern for McCarthy, who has not been able to stay healthy in his first two NFL seasons. Today’s game was just the ninth start of McCarthy’s career, and if his hand injury is as bad as it looked, he will miss the final two games of the season and still have just nine starts in his career at the end of his second NFL season.
The Vikings need to know whether McCarthy, their 2024 first-round draft pick, is their franchise quarterback of the future. But the reality is he hasn’t played enough, and hasn’t played well enough when healthy, to give the Vikings any confidence that they can build around him going forward.
Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer is now in at quarterback for the Vikings.
Vikings center Ryan Kelly has also been ruled out with a concussion. That’s alarming because of Kelly’s history; this is the sixth diagnosed concussion of his NFL career.
The Vikings’ top two running backs, Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones, were both injured on the first drive of today’s game against the Giants.
Both players were initially listed as questionable with ankle injuries. Mason was later ruled out for the rest of the game, while Jones returned.
Mason looked worse than questionable: He went to the locker room on a cart and had the demeanor of a player who thought he had suffered a serious injury.
Jones went into the medical tent and then came out, put on his helmet and was seen jogging on the sideline, so his injury does not appear to be as serious.
Zavier Scott came in at running back for the Vikings when Mason and Jones exited.
The Bills will try to wrap up a playoff berth without the help of wide receiver Keon Coleman on Sunday.
Coleman is inactive for Buffalo’s game in Cleveland. Coleman was not on the injury report at all this week, but will miss his third game of the season. Coleman was scratched for disciplinary reasons earlier this year, but Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media reports Sunday’s deactivation is solely a coach’s decision. Coleman was a 2024 second-round pick and he has 36 catches for 355 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Mecole Hardman, who was activated from injured reserve this week, is active.
The Bills need a win and a loss by either the Texans or Colts in order to book a playoff berth. A win will also help their chances of ending the season as the AFC East champs for the sixth straight season.
Bills at Browns
Bills: WR Keon Coleman, WR Gabe Davis, DT Jordan Phillips, K Matt Prater, OL Tylan Grable, DB Darnell Savage, DT Larry Ogunjobi
Browns: CB Denzel Ward, RB Dylan Sampson, DT Mike Hall Jr., G Wyatt Teller, WR Jamari Thrash, TE David Njoku, DT Sam Kamara
Buccaneers at Panthers
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, TE Devin Culp, G Elijah Klein, WR Sterling Shepard, DL Elijah Simmons, LB Anthony Walker, S Rashad Wisdom
Panthers: WR Hunter Renfrow, LB Trevin Wallace, S Demani Richardson, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, OT Ikem Ekwonu, TE James Mitchell, DT Tershawn Wharton
Jets at Saints
Jets: QB Justin Fields, TE Mason Taylor, DT Mazi Smith, LB Kiko Mauigoa, DT Payton Page, DE Eric Watts
Saints: RB Alvin Kamara, OL Cesar Ruiz, OL Asim Richards, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, S Ugo Amadi, CB Rejzohn Wright, DT Khristian Boyd
Chiefs at Titans
Chiefs: WR Rashee Rice, CB Trent McDuffie, OT Jaylon Moore, WR Tyquan Thornton, RB Dameon Pierce, OL CJ Hanson, DT Derrick Nnadi
Titans: OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OL Garrett Dellinger, OL Drew Moss, DL Cam Horsley, LB Cedric Gray, S Erick Hallett
Chargers at Cowboys
Chargers: WR Derius Davis, S RJ Mickens, EDGE Bud Dupree, OL Branson Taylor, OT Trey Pipkins, TE Tyler Conklin
Cowboys: DT Quinnen Williams, WR Jalen Tolbert, CB Caelen Carson, RB Jaydon Blue, DT Jay Toia, OT Tyler Guyton
Vikings at Giants
Vikings: LB Austin Keys, DT Javon Hargrave, OT Walter Rouse, QB John Wolford
Giants: LB Caleb Murphy, WR Ryan Miller, WR Jalin Hyatt, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, G Jon Runyan, DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, QB Russell Wilson
Bengals at Dolphins
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Charlie Jones, DB Brayln Lux, S P.J. Jules, DE Joseph Ossai, TE Noah Fant, DT Jordan Jefferson
Dolphins: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, CB Isaiah Johnson, T Kendall Lamm, WR Tahj Washington, DT Matthew Butler, QB Tua Tagovailoa
