MN Vikings QB JJ McCarthy Gets All Clear

The 4-8 Minnesota Vikings are getting ready for the least consequential game of their 2025 season, so far. On Sunday, they’ll welcome an equally incompetent 3-9 Washington Commanders to U.S. Bank Stadium.

On Wednesday, the NFC East bottom-dwellers were optimistic their superstar QB Jayden Daniels will return this week against the Vikings, following three weeks out with a dislocated elbow. That optimism went into overdrive Thursday when Washington upgraded their starting QB to a full participant at practice.

JJ McCarthy clears concussion protocol

On the other side of the sideline in Minneapolis this weekend, the status of Minnesota’s starting quarterback JJ McCarthy is even less cloudy. In fact, it’s incredibly clear.. as in McCarthy has officially been cleared from concussion protocol.

J.J. McCarthy is out of concussion protocol. pic.twitter.com/XMPrAbBcqb

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 4, 2025

Related: Vikings Could Give Up on JJ McCarthy Sooner Than Later

Barring any sort of setback or some other unforeseen circumstance, the MN Vikings’ 2024 No. 10 overall pick — who met with reporters on Thursday — will be back under center for the purple four days from now.

If JJ McCarthy does indeed return Sunday, he will make the seventh start of his professional career. Everyone invested, from fans to coaches to the Wilfs will be watching closely, in hopes that the 22-year-old Michigan alum can show signs that he can be the franchise quarterback he was drafted to be.

Minnesota Vikings franchise QB needs to show us SOMETHING

Since McCarthy was drafted back in April 2024, the Minnesota Vikings have played exactly 30 games, between the regular and postseason. Of those 30 opportunities, JJ has played in just six.

After weeks of incessant conversation over the redshirt rookie’s mechanics, O’Connell changed his tune regarding the young quarterback’s thinking, heading into the weekend. Enough thinking… just go throw the football to open receivers.

Interesting: Asked today about expectations for J.J. McCarthy, Kevin O'Connell said it's time to stop the season-long conversation on fundamentals and focus on decision-making. He also said he has spoken with McCarthy about protecting himself better when scrambling. pic.twitter.com/Cig2SK1nP3

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 3, 2025

Related: Vikings Projected for Odd Position in First Big Mock Draft

Entering Sunday’s contest vs the Commanders, JJ McCarthy has completed just 54% of his passes for 929 yards, 6 touchdowns and a whopping 10 interceptions. He’s also been sacked an astonishing 30 times, in his six starts.

After former Gopher Max Brosmer flopped on his face last week (4 INT, 0 TD), when given an opportunity to start in place of McCarthy, the Minnesota Vikings somehow seem even more desperate to see a light at the end of JJ’s tunnel this weekend against a bad Washington team.