After Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy injured his hand on a New York Giants defender’s helmet in Week 16, most […]
After Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy injured his hand on a New York Giants defender’s helmet in Week 16, most feared the worst because he appeared to be in excruciating pain. Fast forward a week and a half, and the 22-year-old has practiced fully in Eagan, a tip of the cap to suggest he will play this Sunday at home against the Green Bay Packers.
McCarthy’s Thursday work changed the Week 18 conversation, and it also keeps Jefferson’s 1,000-yard chase alive entering the contest against the Packers.
Players don’t usually practice in full and then turn around and get downgraded to out, so McCarthy is in the driver’s seat to finish the season.
McCarthy’s Week 18 Return Looks Real
McCarthy, alas, trends to play in Week 18.
A Full Practice for QB1
McCarthy flipped the script on expectations, as some Vikings fans cynically assumed Max Brosmer would start for a third time this season.
CBS Sports noted Thursday, “J.J. McCarthy (right hand) practiced fully Thursday. McCarthy sat out last Thursday against the Lions due to a hairline fracture in his right throwing hand that he sustained Week 16 at the Giants.”
“He got back on the field Tuesday and had a ‘really positive’ throwing session, as coach Kevin O’Connell told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. With a full practice now under his belt, McCarthy is set to take on the Packers in Week 18.”
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis added on X, “J.J. McCarthy was full today and is on track to play Sunday vs. the Packers in the finale.”
With both updates, it would now be a little weird if McCarthy didn’t play in Week 18. The momentum is there for his 10th career start.
McCarthy vs. Tune
Most fans hoped this Week 18 contest between Minnesota and Green Bay would feature McCarthy and Packers signal-caller Jordan Love with playoff implications on the line, but those best-laid plans were formulated months ago. The Vikings will play for pride after being mathematically eliminated from the postseason a couple of weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the Packers cannot escape the NFC’s N. 7 seed on Sunday, no matter what happens, so coach Matt LaFleur will sit Love, who recently recovered from a concussion. Upstart QB2 Malik Willis, who looked better than Love last weekend, is also battling an injury, prompting LaFleur to name Clayton Tune as the starter this weekend.
As Green Bay is down to its QB3 and McCarthy will be ready to roll, Minnesota is a 7.5-point favorite to win. A dub would give the Vikings a winning record on the season, and keep Kevin O’Connell’s little-mentioned streak alive: in each season as the Vikings’ skipper, he has constructed at least one five-game winning streak.
Sail into the Offseason on a High Note
What’s in it for the Vikings then? And McCarthy? Easy — momentum for the 2026 and good vibes on the whole.
A win will only damage April’s draft positioning and hand Minnesota a third-place schedule in 2026, but the Vikings coaching staff and players have shown over the last month that they do not care about the draft order or next year’s schedule. They’re in it to win it.
McCarthy has scripted a strange season to date, authoring several clutch moments that oddly accompanied ruthlessly bad games — and three separate injuries: a high ankle sprain, a concussion, and a hairline hand fracture. Then, as of late, he’s put up Pro Bowl numbers.
Fans will debate over the next couple of months whether McCarthy is worthy of the QB1 title or if a competitor like Mac Jones is needed via trade. A strong game from McCarthy against the Packers’ backups will actually go quite far as a lasting impression and bookend the season.
Justin Jefferson’s Streak Has a Chance
There’s also Jefferson’s streak to consider.
Only Randy Moss and Mike Evans have started their careers with six consecutive 1,000+ receiving yard campaigns. Jeferson is the next in line, but he’s 53 yards shy at the moment.
Last week, the aforementioned Brosmer only generated three net passing yards for the team — yes, just three — and Jefferson’s record felt like toast if Brosmer retook the reins in Week 18. While McCarthy and Jefferson haven’t necessarily set the world on fire together, Jefferson’s streak has a better chance of fruition if McCarthy is flinging the pigskin.
Zone Coverage‘sTrevor Ripley wrote about the streak this week, “Throwing at Jefferson hasn’t been the problem. He’s still ninth in the league in targets this year and has five double-digit target games. The issue has been getting the play to end in a reception. Jefferson is catching just 58% of the balls thrown his way, by far his career low, and almost everyone can share the blame.”
“When McCarthy isn’t launching throws into the second row at U.S. Bank, Jefferson hasn’t been as sure-handed as usual. While he’s only officially been credited with three drops on the year, there have been plenty of balls he hasn’t reeled in that he typically caught in previous seasons.”
Fifty-three yards is usually a walk in the park for Jefferson, but with suspect quarterback play, the mark is in real jeopardy. McCarthy must target Jefferson and target him frequently.
Category: General Sports
