KOC Dodges Questions About JJ McCarthy, Vikings’ QB Future

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Kevin O'Connell - Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Against all odds, the Minnesota Vikings won the final five games of their 2025 schedule to finish the regular season above .500, at 9-8. Once again, it wasn’t much thanks to the quarterback play we saw Sunday afternoon.

JJ McCarthy started the game, but his hand injury was far from 100%. The 2024 No. 10 overall draft pick entered today’s contest with pain that he described earlier in the week as 8.5 out of 10.

JJ McCarthy refused a toradol shot to help manage pain

During that same in-game report, we also found out that the 22-year-old refused a toradol shot this week. Why did he refuse the shot?

According to CBS’ on-field reporter in Minneapolis Sunday, Aditi Kinkhabwala, he did not want to take anything that might numb the pain… because he did not want to numb the pain.

“It’s not only about pain here. He told me earlier this week that his pain level is at an 8.5. This week, the question was whether he could actually grip the football. He told us that he refused to get a toradol shot. He didn’t want anything that would numb the pain or numb the feeling [in his hand].”

Aditi Kinkhabwala – CBS

JJ McCarthy played the entire first half of week 18 vs the Green Bay Packers, but he only lasted one offensive snap into the second. On the Vikings’ first play of the third quarter, McCarthy dropped back and threw a screen pass to Justin Jefferson, wide-left. Immediately after, he waved to the sideline and took himself out of the game.

McCarthy finished Sunday 14-of-23 for 182 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and a 85.8 QB Rating. His first as MN Vikings quarterback came to an end with 1,632 passing yards, 11 TD and 12 INT.

When JJ ran to the sideline, former Gopher Max Brosmer yet again replaced him. This time out, the 2025 UDFA turned in one of his more efficient halves of NFL football, completing 7-of-8 passes for 57 yards and earning a 96.4 QB Rating.

KOC dodges question about JJ McCarthy as 2026 MN Vikings starter

What kind of future does Max have in the NFL and will it be with the MN Vikings? Time will reveal the answers to those questions. But for the Vikings, the only Brosmer hypothetical that matters for the short-term is already answered. He most certainly is NOT the answer in Minnesota at QB1.

But is JJ McCarthy the guy, heading into this offseason? Well, that’s tough to answer when the head coach dodged, ducked, dipped, dove and dodged his way up, down and around that exact question immediately after today’s win over the Packers.

Reporter: “Are you comfortable going into next year with [JJ McCarthy] as your starter?”

KOC: “I think every year, you’re coming back to build a team throughout the offseason, throughout the offseason, throughout the draft and leading into training camp.

I think he’s improved throughout the season. I think he’s grown like a lot of young quarterbacks do throughout the season. I can’t wait to work with him in the offseason and absolutely look forward to the continued development and improvement.

I’m excited about where he’s ending the season and know that there’s some things we can really dive into as a group, [along with] JJ and myself. You know, I look forward to being the best version of myself, not just for JJ, but for the entire team as well.”

When given the opportunity to lead us one way or another, Kevin O’Connell danced around Jim Souhan’s (Star Tribune) question like a true media pro. But in his silence, KOC told us a lot.

Minnesota Vikings are bringing in QB help… but how much?

If the head coach can’t tell us on January 4 that McCarthy is the Minnesota Vikings’ starter for the 2026 season, just seven months from now, then at the very least, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah better get a much better insurance plan in place than Sam Howell and Max Brosmer.

Because let’s be real. Not only has the former Gopher proven that he is not QB1 material in the NFL just yet, but he isn’t even good enough to enter camp as a QB2 on a good team.

Related: Tom Brady Looking to Reunite With MN Vikings Coach

We found out yet again this week, what we’ve already been taught over and over again during the 16 games prior. That without a requisite insurance plan behind JJ McCarthy, he is not a viable answer at starting quarterback for a team that thinks it is ready to win right now.

In a perfect world, a real contender would trade him out for an unhappy high-end QB like Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow. If Kwesi and his front office can’t get that done, then they need to bring someone in who can at least make camp a legitimate QB battle.

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