Story by
Vikings Should Have Never Started JJ McCarthy
- Story by
- Vikings Should Have Never Started JJ McCarthy
Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
There was never expected to be fireworks for the Minnesota Vikings in their Week 18 game against the Green Bay Packers . Matt LaFleur's team was locked into the 7th seed amongst NFC playoff teams, and Kevin O'Connell's was already eliminated.
Regardless, the Vikings opted to start J.J. McCarthy despite still dealing with a broken hand . The focus had to be getting Justin Jefferson the 53 yards needed to keep his 1,000 yard streak alive. Both played a factor in the contest, and neither were unpredictable.
Advertisement
It's great that the MN Vikings recorded 16-3 a victory against their top rival, but it's less than ideal it looked like a preseason contest in January.
Related Headlines
JJ McCarthy is who we thought he was
It was December 21 when J.J. McCarthy bowed out of a game after suffering a broken hand. The Minnesota Vikings kept him out of action on Christmas Day against the Detroit Lions because…his hand was still broken. Despite the Week 18 game against the Green Bay Packers having zero implications, they played him anyways despite…his hand still being broken.
#Vikings QB JJ McCarthy said he refused to take a toradol shot in his hand because he didn't want anything to "numb the pain."
McCarthy also said the pain level heading into today's game was an "8 and a half out of 10."
🎥: @ESPNNFL via IG pic.twitter.com/1PnYkVXBCP— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) January 4, 2026
Yes, that was a real report. The MN Vikings quarterback opted against pain management despite playing through…a broken hand (pain), and not being able to finish the contest. The entirety of this situation is truthfully something else.
Advertisement
The level of culpability runs deep here. J.J. McCarthy is a problem from a durability perspective. He missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury. Then he hurt his ankle against the Atlanta Falcons and missed time. Now, an already questionably history of production somehow warranted a start at diminished health, and it went exactly how you'd imagine.
McCarthy threw for 182 yards on 14-of-23 passing , but he sailed touchdown passes to Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson. The mechanics continued to be a mess, and his lack of self-awareness was on display right out of the gate.
Again, self-awareness isn't exactly a trait of J.J. McCarthy's pic.twitter.com/6uOgotvILH
— Ted (@tlschwerz) January 4, 2026
Minnesota is apparently intent on not making the same mistakes they did with the quarterback room this year in 2026. The starting point for that would be believing in McCarthy to contribute in any capable facet. Until there's a substantive reason to believe why, stop giving him the benefit of doubt.
Justin Jefferson gets his for MN Vikings
While the result didn't matter, individual performance certainly did. McCarthy struggled to get out of his own way, and it was clear that the focus was to get Justin Jefferson the ball early and often. Needing just 53 yards to reach 1,000 for the sixth-straight season, he surpassed the tally before McCarthy bowed out.
Now just the third wide receiver in NFL history (Randy Moss, Mike Evans ) to record six straight seasons of 1,000 yard production, Jefferson was given his flowers. Short of Carson Wentz ( who he averaged 94.5 yards per game with ) the quarterback play by MN Vikings signal callers left plenty to be desired.
Advertisement
Aided by Max Brosmer 's passing (who also embarrassed himself in the contest ) Jefferson recorded his first stateside 100-yard game in more than a year.
Minnesota knows that they need to fix things next season. Jefferson shouldn't request a trade, but he's going to expect competency from the person throwing him the ball. Kevin O'Connell didn't provide him that this season, and there will need to be assurances if the Vikings expect their non-diva wide receiver to stay the course.
Related Headlines
