J.J. McCarthy logs full practice, but Vikings' injury report filled with key players

McCarthy appears on track to start Sunday in the season finale for Minnesota.

Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) drops back to pass against the New York Giants during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The season finale for the Vikings is on Sunday at noon against the Green Bay Packers, and it'll be the last opportunity for J.J. McCarthy to impress before the offseason rumor mill shakes Minnesota like a blast of cold air from the polar vortex in January.

McCarthy appears destined to start at quarterback after logging practice as a full participant on Thursday. That's an improvement after he was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday, having missed Minnesota's Christmas Day win over the Lions with a hairline fracture in his right hand.

If McCarthy starts, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will be the backup quarterback against a Green Bay defense that will likely be resting starters after clinching the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs. Green Bay's playoff fate is secure, outside of the possibility of playing on Wild Card Weekend in Chicago or Philadelphia, who are battling for the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Vikings' injury report on Thursday is filled with key players:

• LB Blake Cashman (elbow): full participant
• TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder): did not practice
• RB Aaron Jones (hip): did not practice
• RB Jordan Mason (ankle): full participant
• RT Brian O'Neill (heel): limited participant
• KR/WR Myles Price (ankle): did not practice
• DT Levi Drake Rodriguez (rib): full participant

Mason was a limited participant on Wednesday, so he's clearly progressing towards being available on Sunday. The same goes for Cashman, who was limited with an elbow injury on Wednesday.

The big questions will be whether Hockenson, Jones, and O'Neill are able to play.