Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has entered the concussion protocol after reporting symptoms on the flight home from Green Bay on Sunday night, coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday.
It is the third injury suffered by McCarthy in his disastrous first season as the Vikings’ starter, beginning with a high right ankle sprain in Week 2 and a bruised right hand in Week 10. O’Connell did not rule McCarthy out for Sunday’s game at Seattle, but backup Max Brosmer will take first-team reps until McCarthy clears the protocol.
“We’ll go through the steps and phases of it,” O’Connell said. “I am not ready to make any sort of designation for the game or anything like that. We’ll let the process play out, but at the same time, I do think it’s important for everybody to know that there is total transparency. I’m going to totally, totally defer to the medical staff and the professionals on that one as well as J.J.”
As of Monday afternoon, the Vikings had not pinpointed a particular play in the 23-6 loss to the Packers that caused McCarthy’s symptoms. O’Connell suggested it “had to be late based upon how the game went.” Video of a scramble with 5:01 remaining in the game showed McCarthy remaining on his back for a few seconds after a tackle by Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie. Two teammates eventually helped him up and he jogged back to the huddle.