J.J. McCarthy’s inaugural season as a starting quarterback in the NFL has been plagued by injuries, leaving fans and the Minnesota Vikings hoping for better days ahead. After missing his entire rookie season due to a knee injury, McCarthy’s 2025 campaign has been challenging, as he’s dealt with an ankle injury, a concussion, and now, a right hand injury sustained in Week 16.
During a pivotal game against the New York Giants, McCarthy suffered the injury after taking a heavy hit from defensive end Brian Burns just before halftime. With only 17 seconds left on the clock, McCarthy was sacked, leading to a fumble that the Giants returned for a touchdown. After this blow, he was seen heading to the locker room, visibly in pain and not returning to the field for the second half.
As updates come in, it’s confirmed that McCarthy has been ruled out for the remainder of the game due to his hand injury. In his absence, rookie quarterback Max Brosmer will take over the responsibilities, having previously stepped in for McCarthy during a game against the Seahawks on November 30. If Brosmer encounters any issues, veteran quarterback John Wolford will be on standby as the emergency option.
Despite McCarthy’s rough start, there is hope that with proper recovery and support from the team, he can bounce back stronger for the remainder of the season and beyond. As he navigates through these challenging moments, the Vikings organization and its fans remain optimistic about his potential progress and future contributions on the field.