Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell said “we’ll see if we can have him next week,” when asked if J.J. McCarthy (hand) could play in Week 18 against the Packers.

26 December 2025

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.