Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy is in concussion protocol, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Monday.
Per O’Connell, McCarthy reported concussion symptoms on the flight back from Green Bay on Sunday, after the Vikings’ disappointing 23-6 loss to the Packers. McCarthy was then evaluated Sunday night.
“After completing those tests, our training staff and doctors and medical team have decided that the right place for him is to put him in the protocol for now, and he’ll go through that process this week,” O’Connell said in Monday’s press conference.
O’Connell said he did not have any additional updates on McCarthy’s condition, but said that the quarterback has been in the building for meetings on Monday. It is unclear when McCarthy sustained the injury.
The injury jeopardizes McCarthy’s status for the Week 13 matchup at the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings will be facing former quarterback Sam Darnold for the first time since Darnold left Minnesota in free agency.
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But it also comes after a pretty disappointing showing from McCarthy, who went 12-for-19 for only 87 yards in the loss to the Packers, throwing two interceptions. The second-year quarterback has not impressed much in his first real season, hitting only 54.1% of his passes with 10 picks and a 57.9 QBRating across six games.
On top of questions about whether he can be the Vikings’ starter, McCarthy has also dealt with other injuries throughout the season, missing five games early in the season with a high ankle sprain. Veteran QB Carson Wentz filled in for a few games, but was placed on IR in October after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.
If McCarthy is not cleared from concussion protocol by Sunday, Minnesota may need to turn to undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer, the only QB left on the Vikings’ roster.
