Overview
- Head coach Kevin O’Connell said J.J. McCarthy is progressing from a throwing‑hand fracture and that grip strength will determine if he plays the season finale.
- Minnesota sits 8-8 and out of the playoff field, with a top‑10 defense underscoring how quarterback play limited the offense.
- McCarthy logged nine games in 2025 with a 57.3% completion rate for 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and analysts noted injuries could cost him 25 of his first 34 regular‑season games if he misses Week 18.
- Media reports outlined possible short‑term alternatives, highlighting a potential trade for 49ers quarterback Mac Jones at a Day‑2 draft cost and free‑agent interest in Packers backup Malik Willis.
- An agent‑driven scenario reported by The Athletic floated a Lamar Jackson trade idea that would send McCarthy to Baltimore, which remains unconfirmed and firmly in the rumor stage.