The injury-ravaged Minnesota Vikings (4-7) will once again be without their expected franchise quarterback when they travel to Lumen Field for a Week 13 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
J.J. McCarthy, the team’s first-round pick out of Michigan, has been ruled out for Sunday’s game after sustaining a concussion in last week’s 23-6 defeat to the Green Bay Packers. The rookie previously missed five contests earlier this season with a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 2.
Making matters worse, veteran backup Carson Wentz is done for the year following left-shoulder surgery. With both signal-callers sidelined, Minnesota will hand the reins to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who has spent most of the season as the emergency third-stringer.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported this week that the Vikings’ coaching staff has been impressed with the former New Hampshire standout, and a strong performance in Seattle could significantly alter the team’s short-term plans at the position—even if McCarthy clears concussion protocol in the coming weeks.
“If Max Brosmer, whom the coaches really like, plays well, then this could get even more complicated,” Breer wrote.
“That said, I’d trust Kevin O’Connell to do right by his quarterback here, and he’s said, over and over, how important it is to prioritize the confidence of a player at that position. Maybe he sees McCarthy’s confidence waning, and sticks with Brosmer for a while. Maybe he thinks the best thing to restore McCarthy’s confidence is to get him back on the field ASAP.”
Through six career starts, McCarthy has completed passes for 929 yards with six touchdowns against ten interceptions. He has thrown multiple picks in four of his last five outings, a stretch that has coincided with growing concerns about his development under pressure.
Despite the rough first season as a starter, Breer believes the organization remains committed to McCarthy as its long-term answer and is unlikely to move on from him before the 2026 offseason at the earliest. Still, Minnesota is almost certain to bring in additional competition—or a reliable veteran backup—next spring.
Sunday represents a golden opportunity for Brosmer to change that calculus. The 24-year-old has appeared only attempted eight passes all season, going 5-of-8 for 42 yards and one touchdown in mop-up duty. Facing a Seattle defense that ranks among the league’s stingiest against the pass will be an entirely different challenge.
If the undrafted rookie can hold his own—or better yet, lead Minnesota to an upset road victory—the Vikings might discover they already have the quarterback depth they thought they lacked. For now, the keys to the offense belong to Max Brosmer, and the entire organization will be watching closely.
