McCarthy stayed briefly before heading to the locker room early. Sideline cameras captured him wincing in pain as trainers examined his right hand, his throwing hand. He did not return for the second half, with the Vikings officially ruling him out soon after. Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy (9) is taken to the locker room after a hit against the New York Giants during the first half at MetLife Stadium. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) The injury woes continue for Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy as he has been ruled out for the rest of the team’s NFL Week 16 game against the New York Giants with a right hand injury. He suffered the setback late in the first half, forcing rookie backup Max Brosmer to step in. McCarthy, who missed his entire 2024 rookie season with a knee injury, faced a challenging 2025 campaign. Earlier this year, he sat out with a high ankle sprain and another due to concussion protocol. Sunday’s injury adds to the growing list, which raises concerns. How the injury happened The decisive moment came with just seconds left in the second quarter. Giant edge rusher Brian Burns blocked off the edge and delivered a crushing hit on McCarthy on a kickoff attempt. The quarterback fumbled the ball, which Giants safety Tyler Nubin scooped up and returned for a touchdown, cutting into Minnesota’s lead. McCarthy stayed briefly before heading to the locker room early. Sideline cameras caught him wincing in pain as trainers examined his right hand, his throwing hand. He did not return for the second half, with the Vikings officially ruling him out soon after. Max Brosmer steps in With McCarthy on the sidelines, Max Brosmer took over under centre. This is not Brosmer’s first taste of action this season. He previously started against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 30 while McCarthy was in concussion protocol. If Brosmer were to go down, veteran John Wolford would serve as the emergency third quarterback. The current Vikings QB depth chart is as follows: JJ McCarthy (injured) Max Brosmer John Wolford Impact on the Vikings JJ McCarthy’s latest injury comes at a difficult time for Minnesota, which has been looking to build momentum. The young quarterback has shown flashes of promise in recent weeks, including multi-touchdown performances. Fans will now wait for further updates on the severity of the hand injury, especially with a short week ahead as the Vikings host the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. Hand injuries can be especially difficult for quarterbacks, potentially affecting grip and throwing mechanics.