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.
Giants Clips
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
The Vikings will play the Giants in New Jersey on Sunday. If they get there.
Minnesota’s team plane left before returning to the airport, due to an issue with the aircraft.
“Shortly after departing, the team plane experienced mechanical issues that required a return to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport,” a team spokesman said, via Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “The team will board a second plane momentarily and is expected to arrive at Newark International Airport later tonight.”
Goessling’s tweet was posted at 5:20 p.m. ET. “Momentarily” has proven to be more malleable than usual.
As of this posting, at 8:00 p.m. ET, the second plane has not departed.
Via Goessling, the initial plane turned around at 3:05 p.m. ET, landing at 4:04 p.m. ET.
The end result is a lengthy delay that will interrupt significantly the team’s Saturday night schedule.
Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the 6-8 Vikings have won two games in a row, and by all appearances are doing whatever they can to finish the season on a high note.
Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux’s season is over.
The Giants placed Thibodeaux on injured reserve on Saturday because of the shoulder injury that has kept him out of the team’s last four games. Thibodeaux had 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks in the 10 games he did play this season.
The Giants exercised their option on Thibodeaux’s contract for the 2026 season. He’s set to make a fully guaranteed salary of $14.751 million.
Cornerback Art Green was activated from injured reserve to fill Thibodeaux’s roster spot. The Giants also elevated defensive lineman Elijah Chatman and kicker Ben Sauls from the practice squad for their game against the Vikings.
The Vikings are placing left tackle Christian Darrisaw on injured reserve, coach Kevin O’Connell said.
Darrisaw has not had a setback with his knee.
“It’s been a complex injury he’s had,” O’Connell said, via Alec Lewis of TheAthletic.com. “I’ve admired the way he’s attacked this.”
Defensive lineman Javon Hargrave (thigh) is the only other player ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Giants.
Right tackle Brian O’Neill (heel) is questionable after not having a full practice all week. Blake Brandel will start at right tackle if O’Neill can’t play, O’Connell said.
Tight end Gavin Bartholomew (back) and running back Ty Chandler (knee) also are questionable.
Twice this season, Giants rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter has been benched for the start of games for disciplinary reasons. But while that’s alarming from the third overall pick in the draft, the Giants say they’re seeing Carter respond the right way.
Giants defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen says Carter is working harder than ever to grow as a player.
“His response, quite honestly, has been incredible after both of those moments,” Bullen said, via Jordan Raanan of ESPN. “I mean, he’s taken ownership publicly, in the building with his teammates and coaches. And then, honestly, just in terms of, like, pattern behavior, he’s doing more. He’s watching more film. He’s coming in earlier and staying later. So the response is what I focus on. Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody needs to learn the NFL process, which he’s learning right now. But his response to those moments has been awesome. It’s been pro-like. And that’s all you’re asking a young player to do is just become a pro as they grow in their game. And he has.”
Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka said Carter has responded exactly the way Kafka hoped.
“Abdul, he put together a good week of practice. It showed up in the game,” Kafka said. “I was happy for -- anytime a young player can step up and kind of start turning the page and improving. But now the challenge, just like it is for everybody, is can you do that again? You have a good game, can you stack another day? Can you stack another week? Can you stack another game?”
Despite his shaky start, the Giants hope Carter can stack up a lot of good games, for many years to come.
Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has been noticeably aggressive in his style of play since taking over as the club’s starter.
It’s not a departure from how he played while he was Ole Miss’ QB1 for the last few years. But as captured by Hard Knocks, Dart’s style also shapes the approach defenses take toward him, as Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt encouraged Washington’s players to treat Dart like a running back and hit him as much a possible.
Does that bother Dart?
“No, absolutely not,” Dart said in his Wednesday press conference. “I mean, [Georgia head coach] Kirby Smart said the exact same thing every time that he played against me, so did [former Alabama head coach] Nick Saban, so did every coach that I played in college.
“So, this is nothing new, just try to go out there and play smart, and be available for your team.”
Dart added that it does give him a bit of extra juice when he hears the way opponents talk about him.
“I mean, it just gets me excited,” Dart said. “I mean, just as a competitor, you want to go out there and compete. And obviously, they’re acknowledging respect in a way, too. So, I appreciate that. You want to go out there and play really good for your team. And I think any time that there’s teams that are game planning and they definitely give respect to a player, I think it’s for a reason. And we do the exact same thing when we go against defenses. So that just competitive atmosphere is the best one to play in, for sure.”
The issue, though, is that Dart’s style of play does not seem sustainable. He’s been checked for a concussion five times in 10 extended appearances, including the preseason.
If he wants to be available long-term for his team, Dart — and his new head coach — may need to take a close look at how he approaches things during the offseason.
