Minnesota Vikings Injury Report: J.J. McCarthy has a broken hand, while key veterans fight hard to play Christmas Day
The Minnesota Vikings will be without J.J. McCarthy on Sunday, but Aaron Jones and Brian O’Neill are still fighting to play.
Christmas Day just got a whole lot more interesting when the Minnesota Vikings take on the Detroit Lions.
Tuesday afternoon brought news that starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy won’t be starting the game due to a broken bone in his hand. He suffered the injury in the 16-13 win over the New York Giants, and missing this game will likely make things easier for the Lions to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Tuesday’s injury report gives us more context on who will play on Thursday.
Vikings Tuesday injury report
| Player | Injury | W/T/F | Designation |
| C Ryan Kelly | Concussion | DNP/DNP | |
| QB J.J. McCarthy | Right Hand | DNP/DNP | |
| TE T.J. Hockenson | Shoulder | DNP/DNP | |
| RB Jordan Mason | Ankle | DNP/DNP | |
| RT Brian O’Neill | Heel | DNP/Limited | |
| DT Javon Hargrave | Thigh | Limited/Limited | |
| RB Aaron Jones | Ankle | Limited/Limited | |
| ILB Eric Wilson | Thumb | Limited/Limited | |
| TE Gavin Bartholomew | Back | Full/Full | |
| RB Ty Chandler | Knee | Full/Full | |
| ILB Austin Keys | Ankle | Full/Full |
Observations
- The important thing with this injury report is that all participants are estimated. It’s a short week, and they didn’t have a full practice on Monday or Tuesday.
- McCarthy has a broken hand and won’t start on Thursday afternoon, giving Max Brosmer the start.
- We have a new lower leg injury for O’Neill with a heel injury. He’s had knee, ankle, and foot designations this season. It’s worth noting that O’Neill continues to work hard to play, despite the Vikings not having anything to play for.
- Both Jones and Mason injured their ankles on Sunday. While Jones returned, Mason didn’t. It would be a surprise to see Mason on Thursday.
J.J. McCarthy’s advanced stats
- 3rd in air yards
- 33rd in adjusted EPA/play
- 32nd in success rate
- 34th in completion percentage over expectation
Detroit Lions Tuesday injury report
| Player | Injury | W/T/F | Designation |
| LT Taylor Decker | Shoulder | DNP/Limited | |
| CB Avonte Maddox | Back | DNP/DNP | |
| WR Amon-Ra St. Brown | Knee | DNP/Limited | |
| OG Trystan Colon | Wrist | Limited/Limited | |
| EDGE Marcus Davenport | Shoulder | Limited/Limited | |
| C Graham Glasgow | Knee | Limited/Full | |
| WR Tom Kennedy | Abdomen | Limited/Limited | |
| OT Giovanni Manu | Knee | Limited/Limited | |
| OG Christian Mahogany | Fibula | Limited/Limited | |
| DT Alim McNeill | Abdomen | Limited/Limited | |
| EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad | Knee | Limited/Limited | |
| CB Amik Robertson | Hand | Limited/Limited | |
| RB David Montgomery | Illness | None/DNP |
Observations
- Like the Vikings, the Lions didn’t have a full practice on Monday. It’s an estimated report.
- The biggest one is Amon-Ra St. Brown. He finished the game on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a non-participant on Monday, but improved to limited on Tuesday.
Minnesota Vikings News
Kevin O’Connell provides critical update on J.J. McCarthy’s injury and status for Christmas Day vs. Lions
Head coach Kevin O’Connell confirms that quarterback J.J. McCarthy has a hairline fracture in his hand and will likely miss Thursday’s game vs. the Detroit Lions.
Minnesota Vikings News
Minnesota Vikings have a major problem on offense in one key area, and it’s a bigger issue with J.J. McCarthy under center
Drops have been a big problem with the Minnesota Vikings, and it’s been considerably worse with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback.
Minnesota Vikings News
Minnesota Vikings defense enters historic territory after dominant performance vs. New York Giants
Brian Flores’ defense is entering historic territory, as the Minnesota Vikings haven’t allowed a passing touchdown since the Baltimore Ravens game.
