EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings are embarking on another round of injury evaluation for quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who did not play in the second half of Sunday's 16-13 victory over the New York Giants because of a hand injury.
X-rays on the hand were negative, coach Kevin O'Connell said, but McCarthy was scheduled for further testing Monday. The Vikings have a short week of preparation before their next game, which is scheduled for Thursday afternoon against the Detroit Lions.
The tight turnaround raises the possibility that McCarthy will miss his seventh game of the season because of a third different injury. A high right ankle sprain cost him five games earlier this season and he sat out a sixth while in concussion protocol. He missed all of his rookie season in 2024 because of a torn meniscus in his right knee.
"It's a bummer just because I'm having a blast coaching him," O'Connell said, "and seeing the growth of a young player getting the opportunity to actually go out there and grow and develop. And I've been so proud of the way, really these last few weeks, he's come back and just really shown some growth. So, you'd love to have him. Love to have him for two straight home games to finish [the season] and we'll see where his hand's at, and if he has the ability to play for us again. I sure hope so."
McCarthy was wearing a latex glove on the hand in the postgame locker room. The Vikings said he was unavailable for comment.
McCarthy had produced his two best games of the season in wins over the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys, producing a combined 82.1 QBR that ranked fifth in the NFL over that period. His performance Sunday was a bit more uneven. O'Connell praised his decision-making, but his accuracy was less consistent, and his receivers struggled to corral some of his throws.
Jordan Addison dropped a touchdown pass in the first quarter and Jalen Nailor let another throw bounce off him for an interception. Overall, McCarthy completed 9 of 14 passes for 108 yards. He did not throw for a touchdown but staked the Vikings to a 13-3 lead in the second quarter with a 12-yard scoring run.
At some point prior to that score, McCarthy had suffered the injury. O'Connell said he did not know exactly when it happened and did not think that McCarthy did, either. Video review showed that two plays before the touchdown, McCarthy hit hand on the helmet of Giants defensive lineman Ray Robertson-Harris. In Week 10, McCarthy bruised his right hand in a similar manner. He did not miss any game time for that injury but wore protective padding for the ensuing two weeks.
McCarthy did not mention Sunday's injury to coaches or medical staff on the sideline, but it grew evident on the next series. With 25 seconds remaining in the half, O'Connell called a quick receiver screen play. But McCarthy did not throw the ball, allowing unblocked Giants linebacker Brian Burns to sack him and force a fumble. Safety Tyler Nubin recovered and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.
"The ball needs to be thrown right away," O'Connell said, "and he knows that. He had done it already in the game. And if you do hold it on a receiver perimeter screen, the backside defensive end is coming and he knows that. So, I haven't seen [replays] yet, but my guess is he could not grip the football."
When an athletic trainer began examining the hand on the sideline, McCarthy grimaced in pain, pulled his arm away and walked to the Vikings' locker room.
"It sucks," right tackle Brian O'Neill said of McCarthy suffering another injury. "With the strides he's made the last few weeks, and even months, you hate to see it. The growth and trajectory that he's been on recently has been fun to play with. It's fun to be a part of. And that's another one of the reasons why you see guys fighting through things to be able to play is because they want to be a part of it and we want to be out with him. Fingers crossed is not too bad."
Backup Max Brosmer played the second half, completing seven of nine passes for 52 yards. Brosmer would start Thursday against the Lions if McCarthy is unavailable.
The Vikings suffered two other significant injuries in the game. Running back Jordan Mason suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return, and center Ryan Kelly was placed into concussion protocol.
Kelly was on injured reserve for nearly two months this season after suffering concussions in Weeks 2 and 4. Sunday's concussion is the sixth in his NFL career.
"We're all just hoping and really just thinking about him," O'Connell said.
O'Connell said he wanted to review the play that Kelly was injured on because "I don't know where the contact could have come from in the normal rhythm of a play like that."
Several Vikings players had "concerns" about the way Kelly was injured, O'Connell said, but he would not elaborate. Video of the play showed Kelly colliding with Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke, who was attempting to fill a hole.