The Minnesota Vikings have placed quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the concussion protocol after he reported symptoms on the team flight home on Sunday night, coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Monday.
“(He) reported some kind of symptoms in regards to his head, and we wanted to get back here once we kind of heard he was evaluated last night,” O’Connell said. “After completing those tests, our training staff and doctors and medical team have decided that the right place for him is to put him in the protocol for now.”
The Vikings fell to 4-7 for the season with their third straight loss Sunday at Green Bay, 23-6. McCarthy threw for a season-low 87 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions and was sacked five times.
After missing his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus and missing five games this season with a high ankle sprain, McCarthy has six touchdown passes to 10 interceptions in six starts this year (2-4 record).
Of 71 quarterbacks with at least six starts over the past decade, McCarthy ranks 67th in QBR (25.6) and completion percentage (54.1), and 66th in average passing yards per game (154.8), per ESPN.
With previous backup Carson Wentz out for the season with a shoulder injury after starting five games while McCarthy was sidelined, rookie Max Brosmer enters the week as QB1 and will start Sunday’s game at Seattle (8-3) if McCarthy can’t clear the protocol.
