{"id":884193,"date":"2026-01-11T07:19:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T13:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/11\/kevin-oconnell-reveals-how-bad-is-j-j-mccarthys-injury-against-giants-addresses-vikings-qbs-performance\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T07:19:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T13:19:07","slug":"kevin-oconnell-reveals-how-bad-is-j-j-mccarthys-injury-against-giants-addresses-vikings-qbs-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/11\/kevin-oconnell-reveals-how-bad-is-j-j-mccarthys-injury-against-giants-addresses-vikings-qbs-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin O\u2019Connell Reveals How Bad Is J.J. McCarthy\u2019s Injury Against Giants, Addresses Vikings QB\u2019s Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>J.J. McCarthy exited after 108 passing yards and a rushing score.<\/li>\n<li>Kevin O\u2019Connell addressed both the injury timeline and execution.<\/li>\n<li>The Vikings\u2019 win came with new uncertainty at quarterback.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">At this point, <strong>J.J. McCarthy\u2019s<\/strong> performance feels almost secondary for <strong>Kevin O\u2019Connell<\/strong> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.essentiallysports.com\/category\/nfl\/minnesota-vikings\/?utm_medium=website&#038;utm_source=website_internal&#038;utm_campaign=web_link_6\" target=\"_self\"><strong>Minnesota Vikings<\/strong><\/a>. His health has clearly taken center stage. Yes, Minnesota escaped Week 16 with a 16\u201313 win over the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.essentiallysports.com\/category\/nfl\/new-york-giants\/?utm_medium=website&#038;utm_source=website_internal&#038;utm_campaign=web_link_8\" target=\"_self\"><strong>New York Giants<\/strong><\/a>, and on paper, that\u2019s the positive. But once again, it came with a familiar downside: McCarthy left the game injured. For the third time this season. This time, it was his throwing hand.<\/p>\n<div data-new-ad=\"false\" id=\"player_stn-player__Dybik\"><svg style=\"height:28px;width:28px\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" viewBox=\"0 0 250 250\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M125.167 229.333C182.698 229.333 229.333 182.698 229.333 125.167C229.333 67.6354 182.698 21 125.167 21C67.6354 21 21 67.6354 21 125.167C21 182.698 67.6354 229.333 125.167 229.333Z\" fill=\"#F75454\" stroke=\"#F4C7CD\" stroke-width=\"20.8333\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" \/><path d=\"M107.007 125.083V100.625L128.19 112.855L149.371 125.083L128.189 137.312L107.007 149.541V125.083Z\" fill=\"#F5D3D6\" stroke=\"#F6D2D6\" stroke-width=\"28.2429\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" \/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div data-content=\"Watch What\u2019s Trending Now!\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M7.14967 0.291147C4.4248 0.931139 2.0749 2.76815 0.87496 5.22146C0.21249 6.5607 0 7.48514 0 9.04956C0 10.3533 0 10.377 0.287487 10.377C0.449979 10.377 0.762465 10.1873 1.03745 9.92659C1.46243 9.51178 1.49993 9.41696 1.62492 8.38587C1.98741 5.35183 4.06231 2.86297 7.02467 1.95039C7.79964 1.71335 8.17462 1.66595 9.56206 1.66595C10.9245 1.66595 11.312 1.71335 11.9619 1.93853C14.3368 2.74445 16.1743 4.4748 17.0367 6.73848C17.2617 7.36662 17.3117 7.72217 17.3117 9.07327C17.3117 10.4481 17.2742 10.7799 17.0242 11.4436C16.1743 13.6717 14.2493 15.485 11.9869 16.1961C11.1995 16.4332 10.8245 16.4806 9.43706 16.4806C8.06213 16.4806 7.68714 16.4332 6.99968 16.1961C5.37475 15.651 3.89982 14.5843 2.99986 13.3162L2.48739 12.5814L3.96232 11.1829L5.43725 9.78437L7.06217 11.3251C7.96213 12.1666 8.77459 12.8658 8.87459 12.8658C8.97458 12.8658 10.112 11.8703 11.3995 10.6495L13.7494 8.42142V9.16808V9.90289H14.5618H15.3743L15.3493 7.9118L15.3118 5.93256L13.1494 5.89701L10.987 5.8733L11.0245 6.60811L11.062 7.35477L11.787 7.41403L12.4994 7.47328L10.7245 9.16808L8.93709 10.851L7.24966 9.25104C6.32471 8.37401 5.51225 7.65106 5.43725 7.65106C5.23726 7.65106 0.624971 12.0836 0.624971 12.2732C0.624971 12.5932 1.44993 14.0154 2.0624 14.7502C3.16235 16.0776 4.78728 17.1324 6.62469 17.725C7.24966 17.9265 7.83714 17.9976 9.12458 18.045C10.5995 18.1043 10.962 18.0806 11.8745 17.8554C15.2243 17.0258 17.9117 14.5013 18.7491 11.3725C19.0616 10.2229 19.0866 8.24365 18.7991 7.02292C18.3867 5.22146 17.1242 3.30148 15.5493 2.05705C14.6743 1.3578 12.8869 0.516329 11.737 0.25559C10.6245 -0.00514603 8.34961 0.0185566 7.14967 0.291147Z\" fill=\"var(--es-primary-700)\" \/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Watch What\u2019s Trending Now!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">Initially, O\u2019Connell didn\u2019t have many answers. He admitted he wasn\u2019t sure how serious the injury was, especially after McCarthy was seen in the locker room wearing a fingerless glove on his right hand. That visual alone raised concerns. The good news came later, though. According to ESPN\u2019s Kevin Seifert, O\u2019Connell confirmed that McCarthy\u2019s X-rays were negative.<\/p>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">The injury itself happened late in the first half with just 25 seconds remaining. Giants pass rusher Brian Burns broke through the line and strip-sacked McCarthy. Rookie defender Tyler Nubin scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown. McCarthy stayed down afterward, visibly grimacing, before trainers rushed in and escorted him to the locker room.<\/p>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">Reports indicated McCarthy struggled to grip the ball after the hit, and the glove he wore inside only reinforced that concern. Unfortunately, this has become a pattern. Since being named the starter, staying on the field has been a challenge for the quarterback. He missed his entire rookie season due to a torn right meniscus, lost five games earlier this year to a right ankle sprain, and another to a concussion.<\/p>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">Fast forward to now, and a right-hand injury adds to the list, as McCarthy couldn\u2019t finish the game. In his absence, rookie Max Brosmer stepped in and did just enough, completing 7-of-9 passes for 52 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions to help close out the win. Afterward, O\u2019Connell still took a moment to acknowledge McCarthy, pointing to his decision-making before the injury.<\/p>\n<h2>Kevin O\u2019Connell addressed J.J. McCarthy\u2019s decision-making<\/h2>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">Following yet another unfortunate night, J.J. McCarthy is set to undergo further testing on Monday. Still, amid the chaos, playoff elimination, injuries, and uncertainty, the Vikings do have something to hold onto. Minnesota is now riding a three-game winning streak, with the victory over the Giants marking the third straight.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=essentiallysports.com\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">And a big part of that optimism comes from what McCarthy showed before going down. The flashes were there. The rhythm was there. And afterward, Coach O\u2019Connell made sure to point that out.<\/p>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">\u201cI thought he (McCarthy) was in a rhythm of great decision-making early on,\u201d the HC said. \u201cObviously, the tip-ball interception on just a simple, quick game out route makes a great decision there. Justin\u2019s (Jefferson) kind of on the underneath route, and they\u2019re giving up the out route to Jalen Nailor.<\/p>\n<div data-content=\"Top Stories\" data-eligible=\"true\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M7.14967 0.291147C4.4248 0.931139 2.0749 2.76815 0.87496 5.22146C0.21249 6.5607 0 7.48514 0 9.04956C0 10.3533 0 10.377 0.287487 10.377C0.449979 10.377 0.762465 10.1873 1.03745 9.92659C1.46243 9.51178 1.49993 9.41696 1.62492 8.38587C1.98741 5.35183 4.06231 2.86297 7.02467 1.95039C7.79964 1.71335 8.17462 1.66595 9.56206 1.66595C10.9245 1.66595 11.312 1.71335 11.9619 1.93853C14.3368 2.74445 16.1743 4.4748 17.0367 6.73848C17.2617 7.36662 17.3117 7.72217 17.3117 9.07327C17.3117 10.4481 17.2742 10.7799 17.0242 11.4436C16.1743 13.6717 14.2493 15.485 11.9869 16.1961C11.1995 16.4332 10.8245 16.4806 9.43706 16.4806C8.06213 16.4806 7.68714 16.4332 6.99968 16.1961C5.37475 15.651 3.89982 14.5843 2.99986 13.3162L2.48739 12.5814L3.96232 11.1829L5.43725 9.78437L7.06217 11.3251C7.96213 12.1666 8.77459 12.8658 8.87459 12.8658C8.97458 12.8658 10.112 11.8703 11.3995 10.6495L13.7494 8.42142V9.16808V9.90289H14.5618H15.3743L15.3493 7.9118L15.3118 5.93256L13.1494 5.89701L10.987 5.8733L11.0245 6.60811L11.062 7.35477L11.787 7.41403L12.4994 7.47328L10.7245 9.16808L8.93709 10.851L7.24966 9.25104C6.32471 8.37401 5.51225 7.65106 5.43725 7.65106C5.23726 7.65106 0.624971 12.0836 0.624971 12.2732C0.624971 12.5932 1.44993 14.0154 2.0624 14.7502C3.16235 16.0776 4.78728 17.1324 6.62469 17.725C7.24966 17.9265 7.83714 17.9976 9.12458 18.045C10.5995 18.1043 10.962 18.0806 11.8745 17.8554C15.2243 17.0258 17.9117 14.5013 18.7491 11.3725C19.0616 10.2229 19.0866 8.24365 18.7991 7.02292C18.3867 5.22146 17.1242 3.30148 15.5493 2.05705C14.6743 1.3578 12.8869 0.516329 11.737 0.25559C10.6245 -0.00514603 8.34961 0.0185566 7.14967 0.291147Z\" fill=\"var(--es-primary-700)\" \/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div>\n<h2>Top Stories<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">\u201cAnd we just got a pitch and catch that one. There was a couple of other ones, but loved the decisive decision to Addison (Jordan) on play action there at one point. And he showed his athleticism on a big third down to put the ball in the end zone, which was huge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">Before exiting, McCarthy went 9-of-14 for 108 yards with one interception, while also adding 20 rushing yards on two carries, including a 12-yard rushing touchdown. And the plays O\u2019Connell referenced weren\u2019t hard to find on the stat sheet. The Vikings finished with 126 passing yards, with Justin Jefferson doing most of the damage.<\/p>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">The receiver hauled in six receptions for 85 yards. Team notes show McCarthy leaned on Jefferson in key third-down moments, as Minnesota finished an efficient 7-of-12 on third down. Addison\u2019s line with two catches for 26 yards doesn\u2019t jump off the page, but context matters. One of those grabs came off play action, the exact snap O\u2019Connell praised for McCarthy\u2019s decisiveness.<\/p>\n<p data-athlete=\"false\">So while the Vikings are officially out of the playoff race, they head into the final two games with real confidence, fueled by a three-game win streak. The only lingering question, once again, is whether J.J. McCarthy\u2019s body will let him finish what he\u2019s started.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> Larisa Klemp<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.essentiallysports.com\/nfl-active-news-vikings-kevin-oconnell-reveals-how-bad-is-j-j-mccarthys-injury-against-giants-addresses-vikings-qbs-performance\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>J.J. McCarthy exited after 108 passing yards and a rushing score. Kevin O\u2019Connell addressed both the injury timeline and execution. The Vikings\u2019 win came with new uncertainty at quarterback. At this point, J.J. McCarthy\u2019s performance feels almost secondary for Kevin O\u2019Connell and the Minnesota Vikings . His health has clearly taken center stage. Yes, Minnesota<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":884194,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[523,28161],"tags":[8983,147361],"class_list":{"0":"post-884193","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-kevin","8":"category-oconnell","9":"tag-kevin","10":"tag-oconnell"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=884193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884193\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/884194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=884193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=884193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=884193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}