11/24/25 04:08:00
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11/24 15:55 CST Vikings put McCarthy in concussion protocol, after struggling
QB reports postgame symptoms
Vikings put McCarthy in concussion protocol, after struggling QB reports
postgame symptoms
By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Pro Football Wirter
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) --- The Minnesota Vikings have placed quarterback J.J.
McCarthy in the concussion protocol, putting his availability for the upcoming
game at Seattle in question.
McCarthy first reported symptoms during the team's flight home from the 23-6
loss at Green Bay, coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday. The medical staff made
the decision to put him in the protocol after returning to Minnesota, O'Connell
said, and the Vikings hadn't identified a particular play when McCarthy
might've taken a hit to the head.
"It had to be late, based upon how the game went," O'Connell said.
O'Connell declined to answer specific questions about the severity or nature of
McCarthy's symptoms. He did not rule McCarthy out for this Sunday but said
rookie backup Max Brosmer would step in with the first-string offense in
practice this week until or unless McCarthy is cleared.
"We'll go through the steps and phases of it. I'm not ready to make any sort of
designation for the game or anything like that," O'Connell said. "We'll let the
process play out, but at the same time I do think it's important for everybody
to know that there is total transparency. I'm going to totally, totally defer
to the medical staff and the professionals on that one as well as J.J."
With 10th-year veteran Carson Wentz out for rest of the season following
shoulder surgery, the only other quarterback on Minnesota's roster is John
Wolford, a 30-year-old journeyman on the practice squad. Wolford does have
experience in O'Connell's system, with the Los Angeles Rams in the 2020 and
2021 seasons when O'Connell was the offensive coordinator there under coach
Sean McVay.
McCarthy, who missed his rookie season recovering from knee surgery and sat out
five more games this season with a high ankle sprain, has struggled mightily to
find any kind of rhythm or display any obvious progress. He went 12 for 19 for
87 yards with two interceptions and five sacks against the Packers, as the
Vikings (4-7) lost their third straight game.
McCarthy has been intercepted 10 times in six NFL starts. His completion rate
(54.1 percent) is the worst in the league among all passers with 50 or more
attempts this season. But now his practice time has been interrupted again. He
also played through a bruised hand earlier this month.
"It's unfortunate because all you want to do is go back to work," O'Connell
said.
Brosmer went undrafted after setting the Minnesota program record for
completions in his lone season at the FBS level. He transferred from New
Hampshire, where he led the FCS in passing yards per game in 2023 and was one
of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award given annually to the top
offensive player in the NCAA's second tier.
"I think we all have a lot of confidence in Max," O'Connell said. "Ideally
you'd love to have a bunch of runway for him to continue on his journey, but I
know Max will prepare like crazy like he does every week."
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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