Right around 48 hours out from their Christmas Day game against the Detroit Lions, we have the answer to who will be starting at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17. . .and it will not be J.J.
McCarthy.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced just moments ago that McCarthy has a hairline fracture in his throwing hand and is out for Thursday afternoon’s game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Max Brosmer will get the start at quarterback for the Vikings.
McCarthy injured his hand late in the second quarter of the Vikings’ 16-13 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon and sat out the second half as Brosmer took over. It’s the third injury this season that will cause him to miss games. He missed several games with a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2 and also missed a game due to a concussion.
O’Connell said that McCarthy will not be placed on injured reserve and that the team will determine whether or not he will be able to play in the team’s regular season finale against Green Bay in Week 18.
Brosmer, who started the game that McCarthy missed with that concussion against the Seattle Seahawks, will get his second career NFL start. Vikings fans will be hoping that it goes significantly better than his first start did because. . .well, to be honest, it would be hard for it to go much worse. Brosmer threw four interceptions in that game in Seattle, and the Vikings put up what was, at least by one measure, their worst offensive performance of the last 50 years in a 26-0 loss.
John Wolford will serve as Brosmer’s backup for Thursday’s game.
The Vikings already had a bit of an uphill battle ahead of them on Christmas Day, and now they’re going into battle led by their backup quarterback. Max Brosmer will get the start in front of the hometown fans for “Winter Whiteout” day at U.S. Bank Stadium, as J.J. McCarthy will miss the game with a hairline fracture in his throwing hand.
