JJ McCarthy's NFL career has been marred by a string of injuries, and the latest setback is a hairline fracture on his throwing hand. This injury comes just before halftime of the Week 16 win over the New York Giants, where McCarthy's hand made contact with a Giants defensive player's helmet. With this injury, McCarthy will miss the Christmas Day home game against the Detroit Lions, marking his second start of the season for undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. Brosmer, a former Minnesota Gophers standout, started the Week 13 road game against the Seattle Seahawks, where he completed 19-of-30 passes for 126 yards and four interceptions. The Vikings have gone 5-4 with McCarthy under center, and he has thrown for 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions on 57.3% passing. He's also rushed for 174 yards and four scores on the ground. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed his disappointment, stating, 'It's a bummer just because I'm having a blast coaching him and seeing the growth of a young player.' The team's fate for the rest of the season remains uncertain, as McCarthy's return is yet to be determined.
