J.J. McCarthy injury update: Vikings QB placed in concussion protocol

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is in the concussion protocol, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell. McCarthy reported the symptoms on the team’s flight home Sunday after losing to the Green Bay Packers.

It was a slog Sunday in a 23-6 loss to Green Bay. McCarthy went 12-of-19 passing for 87 yards, two interceptions and ran twice for 10 yards. His first year as a starter hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows.

The loss dropped the Vikings to 4-7 on the year and are dangerously close to being completely out of playoff contention. This is also the latest injury in a long list for McCarthy.

With Carson Wentz out for the season, the Vikings lone QB is Max Brosmer. If McCarthy is ruled out this weekend at the Seattle Seahawks, Brosmer is in line to start.

This season, McCarthy has 929 yards, six touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 54.1% completion percentage. He is 2-4 as a starter this season.

It was a brutal day Sunday from McCarthy and the entire Vikings organization. O’Connell put it bluntly postgame.

“You’re not going to come to Lambeau Field and win a game, especially playing like that in the second half,” O’Connell said, via the team’s website. McCarthy was honest about his performance too.

“It sucks,” McCarthy said. “Credit to them, they executed better than us all day today and had a great game plan — and executed that game plan better than we did. “I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to do a lot of things better.”

O’Connell didn’t waver in belief of his QB though. As long as he’s healthy, McCarthy is his guy.

“It’s still definitely a work in progress for sure, but I still believe he’s absolutely under control from a play-call standpoint,” O’Connell said. “There’s little things that happen, like the quarterback getting tripped up on a play pass where you might have a look at something, or maybe the dialogue in the huddle, making sure all 11 are on the same page. There’s little things that come up here and there that just continue to limit your chances of having ultimate successful — enough against a good defense to go put point on the board.”