McCarthy completed 14 of 23 pass attempts for 182 yards and added seven yards on two carries before exiting Sunday's 16-3 win over the Packers in the third quarter after aggravating a right hand injury.

EDGE Analysis

Unfortunately for McCarthy, his 10th career start came to an early end, as he attempted just one pass in the second half before informing head coach Kevin O'Connell that the small hairline fracture in his throwing hand was presenting issues with gripping the football. After having his entire 2024 rookie season wiped out by a meniscus tear in his right knee, McCarthy missed seven total games in 2025 due to a right high-ankle sprain, a concussion and then the fractured hand. When available, he showed strong scrambling ability (181 rushing yards and four TDs), but he still has a long way to go as a passer. On the season, McCarthy completed just 57.6 percent of his throws for 6.7 yards per attempt and an 11:12 TD:INT, and he also took 27 sacks on 270 dropbacks (10 percent sack rate) while fumbling six times, losing two. The 22-year-old will tentatively head into 2026 atop Minnesota's depth chart, but Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Sunday that the Vikings are expected to explore more established options at quarterback via trade or free agency this offseason, potentially forcing McCarthy to compete for the starting job in training camp.

McCarthy exited Sunday's game versus the Packers due to a right hand injury.

EDGE Analysis

McCarthy appeared to aggravate his previously injured right hand early in the third quarter of Week 18 action. At the time of his departure, he had completed 14 of 23 passes for 182 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions and took his two carries for seven yards. Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer took over for McCarthy.

McCarthy (hand) will start Sunday's game against the Packers, Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Vikings won't have RB Aaron Jones (hip) or TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), potentially placing more of the offensive burden on WRs Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Neither has done much with McCarthy under center this season, but things were even worse with undrafted rookie Max Brosmer making starts. The Packers, meanwhile, are expected to rest a lot of key players in preparation for the postseason.

McCarthy (right hand) practiced fully Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

McCarthy sat out last Thursday against the Lions due to a hairline fracture in his right throwing hand that he sustained Week 16 at the Giants. He got back on the field Tuesday and had a "really positive" throwing session, as coach Kevin O'Connell told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. With a full practice now under his belt, McCarthy is set to take on the Packers in Week 18.

McCarthy said after Wednesday's practice that he was limited and remains "day-to-day," Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCarthy sustained a hairline fracture in his right throwing hand Week 16 at the Giants and didn't play last Thursday against the Lions. Coach Kevin O'Connell told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com that McCarthy had a "really positive" throwing session Tuesday, and the quarterback himself said Wednesday that he "felt good throwing." It remains to be seen if McCarthy will be able to suit up Sunday versus the Packers, but Max Brosmer is on hand for another start if the former isn't cleared to play.

Coach Kevin O'Connell said McCarthy went through a "really positive" throwing session Tuesday with the Vikings' medical staff and will take part in Wednesday's practice, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCarthy suffered a hairline fracture in his right throwing hand during a Week 16 win at the Giants that sidelined him for last Thursday's victory against the Lions. O'Connell said McCarthy likely will be limited in his return to drills Wednesday, but the second-year QB nonetheless is progressing in advance of Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Packers.

Coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that McCarthy (hand) is progressing and the swelling has come down, but his status for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Packers is to be determined, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

O'Connell said it's going to come down to McCarthy's ability to grip the football after he suffered a fracture in his throwing hand Week 16 against the Giants. Max Brosmer made the Week 17 start against the Lions but was borderline incompetent once again, completing just nine of 16 passes for 51 scoreless yards while absorbing seven sacks. McCarthy's status will be updated again no later than Wednesday.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Tuesday that McCarthy has been diagnosed with a small hairline fracture in his right hand following an MRI and has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Lions.

EDGE Analysis

According to Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune, O'Connell said that McCarthy's injury is "similar to a bone bruise," adding that the Vikings don't view the issue as significant enough to send the second-year quarterback to injured reserve. The Vikings are thus leaving the door open for McCarthy to play in their season finale Jan. 4 versus the Packers, but he won't have sufficient time to heal up from the injury in advance of Thursday's contest. The Vikings will turn to Max Brosmer to make his second start of the season, after the undrafted rookie came on in relief for an injured McCarthy in this past Sunday's 16-13 win over the Giants.

McCarthy (hand) was deemed a non-participant on Monday's practice estimate, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCarthy, who left Sunday's 16-13 win over the Giants with an injury to his right throwing hand, thus has two more chances to upgrade his listed participation level ahead of Thursday's game against the Lions. In the event that McCarthy is unavailable for the contest, Max Brosmer would be in line to draw the start at QB for the Vikings in his place.

McCarthy, who left Sunday's 16-13 win over the Giants, appears to have avoided a broken bone in his hand, according to Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune, with coach Kevin O'Connell having confirmed that the QB's initial X-rays came up negative.

EDGE Analysis

Following the game, McCarthy was spotted with his right hand in a fingerless glove in the Vikings' locker room. Per Goessling, McCarthy will undergo further testing Monday, but for now consider the QB day-to-day as Thursday's game against the Lions approaches. If McCarthy is unavailable for that contest, Max Brosmer would be in line to draw the start in his place.