Will J.J. McCarthy be able to play Sunday against the Commanders? Minnesota QB’s injury report
Minnesota’s quarterback is symptom-free and trending toward a Week 14 return as the Vikings prepare for the struggling Commanders.
The 4-8 Minnesota Vikings enter Week 14 still searching for stability, but at least they’re finally getting a piece of good news. The team may have its starter back just in time for a winnable game against the Washington Commanders this Sunday.
McCarthy’s injury status ahead of Week 14
Starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been sidelined since suffering a concussion during the Vikings’ 23–6 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The injury knocked him out of the game and wiped out his Week 13 availability as he worked through the NFL’s concussion protocol.
On Tuesday, the team finally received good news: McCarthy is now symptom-free and is scheduled for a full practice on Wednesday, his final requirement before being cleared. Head coach Kevin O’Connell sounded encouraged, noting, “He’s symptom-free… the last step is just a full practice day.”
J.J. McCarthy is symptom free, Kevin O'Connell says, and should emerge from the concussion protocol assuming he gets through a full practice Wednesday. He is their expected starter for Sunday's game vs. Washington.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 1, 2025
If he handles that workload normally, McCarthy is expected to start Sunday against Washington.
With McCarthy unavailable, the Vikings turned to undrafted passer Max Brosmer, who was thrust into his first NFL start, and it showed. Brosmer finished 19-of-30 for 126 yards with four interceptions in a 26–0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a performance that highlighted the broader issues across Minnesota’s stagnant offense.
The Vikings have scored just six total points over their last eight quarters, entering Week 14 with the league’s No. 29 scoring offense. McCarthy’s play earlier in the year had been up and down as well (929 passing yards, six touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 54.1% completion rate), but the team believes his return gives them their best chance to stabilize the final stretch of the season.
He may also get more help around him this week. O’Connell said offensive linemen Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, and Ryan Kelly all have a chance to return, which would mark one of the healthiest line combinations the team has had in weeks. That will be important against a Commanders defense that has struggled all season against both the run and the pass.
QB room shuffle: Ridder released
The Vikings also made a quiet but notable quarterback move this week, releasing Desmond Ridder just days after signing him as temporary depth. With McCarthy trending toward being ready and Brosmer returning to the backup role, Ridder became expendable. The move also signals confidence that McCarthy is truly back. Minnesota wouldn’t thin out its QB room if there were lingering doubts.
Minnesota isn’t eliminated yet, but the margin for error is gone. Five games remain, and the Vikings likely need to win out, or close to it, to stay alive in the NFC picture. But with McCarthy on track to return, healthier protection up front, and a home matchup against a struggling 3–9 Commanders team, Sunday offers a rare chance to shift momentum.
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