J.J. McCarthy faces concussion protocol after relentless Packers pressure. Despite fierce effort, hits sideline the young QB, raising Vikings' season concerns.
It's been a difficult season for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Sunday's game added another difficult element to his season.
McCarthy has been placed in concussion protocol after a physical game against the Green Bay Packers saw Green Bay eclipse five sacks on several pressures.
For all the talk about McCarthy's growing pains, Sunday's effort did not lack zeal on McCarthy's part. The first-year starter displayed plenty of fight and toughness in the game, but simply did not have the time to get rid of the football. It appears the high volume of hits took a toll on the former high NFL draft pick.
McCarthy was unable to get the offense going for the Vikings on Sunday. The game saw him complete 12-of-19 passing attempts for 87 yards and two interceptions. The performance drove his already lackluster statistical year even further down.
The Vikings signal caller currently has a 24.9 QBR score out of 100 possible points. He is No. 33 in the league in QBR and No. 45 in passer rating with a 57.9 rate out of 158.3 possible points.
The interesting statistics don't stop there. The starter ranks No. 851 out of 852 qualified quarterbacks in expected points added since 2000. McCarthy is in the negative at -0.45 expected points added. Former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell is the only one that falls below McCarthy on the list.
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (95) celebrates with defensive end Rashan Gary (52) after sacking Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game, 23-6. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinThere's always more than one side to a story, and certainly the Vikings offensive line has done McCarthy no favors at times this season. Certainly, they did not help much against the Packers. That said, when a defense senses that the opposing quarterback is not going to make them pay for aggression, it feels more inclined to apply pressure to the opposing offensive line.
Sunday saw the Packers stifle the Minnesota running game and force McCarthy to make contested throws and read the field. McCarthy just didn't connect.
Certainly, McCarthy's career is far from over. He will likely have more opportunities to make things happen as he moves forward. Even so, questions linger as the Vikings are looking to get back to the NFC contender, they have been seemingly more often than not over the past decade or so of football.
The Vikings will hope for a speedy recovery for McCarthy as he navigates his second NFL season. We will monitor McCarthy's health as the season reaches the final games of the year.