The Detroit Lions now have clarity at quarterback on the other sideline heading into their must-win Christmas Day matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, and it’s not the name many expected.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a hairline fracture in his throwing hand following an MRI and will miss Week 17. As a result, Minnesota will turn to Max Brosmer as the starter against Detroit.
McCarthy will avoid injured reserve for now, but the injury is significant enough to sideline him for Thursday’s game. That decision locks in Brosmer, a 24-year-old quarterback with limited NFL experience, to lead the Vikings’ offense in a game that carries major playoff implications for both teams.
Brosmer has appeared in five games this season, throwing for 220 yards with a 66 percent completion rate, but also four interceptions and no touchdowns. While the Vikings will likely try to protect him with a conservative game plan, the Lions’ defense now knows it will be facing a quarterback still finding his footing at the NFL level.
For Detroit, the focus remains on handling business regardless of who lines up under center. But there’s no question this late injury development changes the complexion of the matchup, and gives the Lions a clearer picture of what they’ll be up against on Christmas Day.
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