Latest Vikings Injury Report Telling for J.J. McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings are on a short week following their matchup with the New York Giants on Sunday — an ugly, injury-plagued victory over a beleaguered Giants team already packed for their offseason vacation.

Now, the 7-8 Vikings must turn around on four days rest, for a Christmas Day contest on Thursday against the Detroit Lions. Their NFC North rival enters the week 17 holiday contest fresh off a last-second home loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers that put the Lions’ playoff hopes on the ropes.

In fact, if the Vikings can find a way to victory vs Detroit, not only will it get them back to .500 and mark their fourth-straight victory, but it would officially pull the plug on their division rival’s playoff hopes.

J.J. McCarthy doesn’t practice, KOC skips media session

We do not know what McCarthy’s official diagnosis is yet, after he left Sunday vs the Giants early with a hand injury. On top of that, there was no practice held in Eagan Monday, and Kevin O’Connell did not meet with media like he normally does.

Tough way for JJ McCarthy to end his day… pic.twitter.com/OD3XWgqVJn

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 21, 2025

On Sunday, McCarthy threw for just 108 yards on 9-of-14 passing attempts and saw yet another tipped pass end up intercepted. The Vikings need to determine what their future looks like at quarterback, but that’ll be tough if their 2024 first round pick is on the sideline in street clothes.

In other words, a lot of fog still hangs over McCarthy’s injury and his status for Christmas Day. But Monday’s initial week 17 injury report — which had five total DNPs on it — may have told us everything we needed to know.

Because one of those DNPs was indeed J.J. McCarthy, which makes him very very very unlikely to play three nights from now. With only two practices between now and Christmas Day, there just isn’t enough time for the 22-year-old to recover and game plan for the Lions.

The #Vikings first injury report of the week.

The team did not conduct an official practice so participation is an estimation. pic.twitter.com/eryXao2vye

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 22, 2025

With McCarthy likely out, Max Brosmer is expected to make his second start of the season, with veteran John Wolford backing him up. The 25-year-old did show signs of hope during the second-half in New Jersey.

In all reality, it would be difficult for the former Gopher to play worse than he did in his NFL debut, a four-interception disaster out West against the Seattle Seahawks.

Depleted Minnesota Vikings O-line on tap for whoever plays QB

It would help, however, to have some beef back on his offensive line. Christian Darrisaw is already out for the season, and it’s likely that Ryan Kelly will join him after suffering the third concussion of his season.

If Brian O’Neill is also unavailable, it might not matter who is playing QB. At that point, Will Fries and Donovan Jackson would be the only remaining starters from an offensive line that the Minnesota Vikings front office invested heavily in this offseason.