The Minnesota Vikings’ decision to back J. J. McCarthy as the offensive leader has not paid off this season. After missing the entire 2024 campign, he has struggled with injuries this year. The quarterback was placed in concussion protocol ahead of the Week 13 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will start for the Vikings in McCarthy’s absence on Sunday. NFL analyst Dianna Russini shared her take about Minnesota’s quarterback situation. Thanks for the submission! 70% Win (110-25-1) 70% Win (110-25-1) 70% Win (110-25-1) Unlock Free tips from our Experts Get Picks Now “The undrafted rookie, making his first NFL start, has evaluators using words like calm, organized, and efficient. I’m told by a scout who liked him in college at New Hampshire and Minnesota, ‘He’s not flashy, but neither was Brock Purdy when he first got tossed into the fire for the 49ers and won the job.'” Russini mentioned that there have been concerns about how another year sitting on the bench would affect McCarthy. She added that there’s a lot of pressure on a young player and his coaches. Whether they’ll be able to grow a raw and talented quarterback to match a team built to win yesterday is a tough decision to make. Minnesota let Sam Darnold walk out in free agency and didn’t pursue Aaron Rodgers in the offseason due to its faith in McCarthy. “Brosmer might not be the long-term answer,” Russini wrote. “But O’Connell has another shot to stabilize this offense, squeeze something out of a season veering sideways, and, if nothing else, give maybe the best receiver in football, Justin Jefferson, a reason to smile again. The star wideout has stayed patient all season despite the quiet stat lines.” The Vikings (4-7) are at the botton of the NFC North and McCarthy has a 2-4 record as a starter. He has already missed five games this season due to an ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2. J. J. McCarthy set to miss sixth game this season J. J. McCarthy is expected to miss the Vikings’ Week 13 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks after entering concussion protocol. The second-year quarterback reported symptoms during the team’s flight home from Green Bay on Sunday, according to ESPN. It is his third injury of the season after an ankle sprain in Week 2 and a bruised right hand in Week 10. Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell has not ruled McCarthy out for Sunday, but said that Max Brosmer will receive first-team practice reps until he is cleared. McCarthy ranks last in QBR (24. 8), touchdown-to-interception ratio (0. 6) and completion percentage (54. 1) in the league.
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Tag: touchdown-to-interception
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan Makes Admission on Brock Purdy’s Injury
The San Francisco 49ers have shown they can win without quarterback Brock Purdy, which is reassuring given that he may not be fully healthy anytime soon.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Purdy might not be at full strength for the remainder of this season. Purdy missed his fifth straight game during the 49ers’ 34-24 victory over the New York Giants. The team currently stands at 6-3 overall and 5-2 with Mac Jones starting in Purdy’s absence due to a lingering toe injury.
Purdy has missed two games earlier in the season because of this toe ailment, along with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Despite this, reports suggest he could be well enough to return for San Francisco’s upcoming showdown on Sunday against their rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, at Levi’s Stadium.
### Brock Purdy May Not Be 100 Percent Again This Season
No player who logs significant snaps is ever truly 100 percent healthy once November rolls around, but Purdy’s condition—turf toe, medically defined as a hyperextended big toe—is especially painful when playing on artificial turf. This injury is likely to remain a concern for the 49ers throughout the rest of the season.
“Any time you’re dealing with this turf toe, it’s something that probably won’t fully go away all year,” Shanahan said after the 49ers’ win over the Giants. “Regardless of when he comes back, he’s always going to have to deal with it a little bit.”
The 49ers have played two consecutive games on turf and three of their past five games on artificial surfaces. However, that streak will end when they return home to face the Rams. Sunday’s game marks the start of a stretch featuring five straight games on grass (including four in a row), followed by their Week 14 bye and then a home game in Tennessee.
This upcoming matchup is considered conducive for Purdy’s potential return, according to Shanahan. “When you talk to people who have gone through turf toe, it’s really about when is it the best time when you have to deal with it the least,” Shanahan explained. “It’s a little bit of a tricky decision.”
### The 49ers Are Trying To Get Brock Purdy As Healthy As Possible Before He Returns
When asked about the possibility of Purdy undergoing toe surgery, Shanahan indicated that it is unlikely. Meanwhile, Mac Jones has continued to perform impressively in his pro career. The fifth-year quarterback boasts a 67.2% completion percentage, a 10-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and is averaging 261.7 passing yards per game. This strong performance has provided no pressing reason to rush Purdy back onto the field.
Shanahan is focused on carefully easing Purdy back into practice, conscious of not pushing the quarterback too hard given the severity of his injury. The 49ers currently hold about an 80% chance of making the playoffs, and they will want their No. 1 quarterback healthy if they hope to make a serious run at playing a Super Bowl on their home turf in February.
“I just want to make sure he gets 100 percent better, and I won’t put him out there too early,” Shanahan said. “I thought about [Purdy] as a backup or emergency [third QB], but I think the more time we give him, the better.”
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/kyle-shanahan-brock-purdy-toe-injury-season/