Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Reveals Huge J.J. McCarthy Injury News

The Minnesota Vikings still aren’t sure whether J.J. McCarthy will be ready for their Week 13 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. The second-year quarterback remains in concussion protocol, so his availability is up in the air.

Moreover, it appears that McCarthy won’t get the green light to play against the Seahawks. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on November 26 that McCarthy isn’t expected to play after entering the protocol.

Nonetheless, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t ruling out McCarthy just yet after speaking with the media on November 26.

“He’s cleared enough of the protocol to at least participate in a limited capacity [on November 26];

that’s part of the next phases of it,” O’Connell told reporters. “He’s in the protocol, and as that goes and as the medical process plays out, I think as far as the zero hour, I

don’t necessarily know if we’re looking at it like that. But you do want to take into account what his preparation been like, what has the practice week been like

with what he’s able to do, while also knowing that ultimately this is not talking about a hand or an ankle or anything like that.

“We’re talking about his head, and

it’s obviously something that, as a former player and just thinking about it from that context, we want to, for sure, make sure we defer to the medical team, but

then also what we feel is best. We’re still not in place to declare anything yet, just listening to where it’s at right now and where it could

get to. But we’re obviously going to be smart, both for what’s best for our team and what’s best, most importantly, for J.J.”

Bruce Arians Gives Blunt Advice to J.J. McCarthy

McCarthy went 12 for 19 for 87 yards, threw two picks, and was sacked five times in Minnesota’s 23-6 loss to the Green Bay Packers on November 23.

Since coming back from his injury, he has been under a heavy spotlight from national NFL outlets, and the rough outing against the Packers only pushed the scrutiny further.

During the November 25 episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,“ former NFL coach Bruce Arians offered him straightforward guidance, saying he still believes McCarthy has what it takes to make it work in Minnesota.

“The alter ego thing, it needs to be AP,“ Arians told Pat McAfee. “Accurate passer. We don’t need snot bubbles and tears. You play quarterback, not linebacker. We

don’t need all this hyped-up [ __ ]. Just go [ __ ] play quarterback and be relaxed and throw the damn ball to the right guy because you got the talent… Just relax. Get rid of ‘9

‘ first thing. Let’s get rid of ‘9‘ and let’s get J.J. in there and play.”

Mike Florio Weighs In on Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy

However, whether McCarthy plays against Seattle might be irrelevant for one NFL insider. NBC

Sports’ Mike Florio believes the Vikings would be better off starting someone else at center, which would probably mean Max Brosmer getting the start, given the struggles he’s seen from McCarthy—even if he clears concussion protocol in time for Week 13.

“[McCarthy] needs to take a step back,“ Florio said on the November 25 edition of “Pro Football Talk Live.“ “He’s trying too hard; I feel like

he’s thinking too much, and he’s gotten himself into this cycle that he can’t break out of.

“I think it’s useful for him at this point to get a break from playing because it just feels like you can just feel that whole demeanor and the body language and the look on the face. I feel like everything about J.J. McCarthy is [that] he wants to go out there, and on the very next play he wants to make the play that wins the Super Bowl

.”

Chiefs Make ‘Intriguing’ Last-Minute Roster Move Before Cowboys Face-Off

The Kansas City Chiefs revealed two practice squad elevation roster moves on November 26, just before their Week 13 Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. And one of the two decisions was a bit unexpected.

“We have activated Practice Squad players [safety] Mike Edwards and [offensive tackle] Esa Pole via Standard Elevation,” the Chiefs announced on X. This drew a response from different beat reporters covering the team.

“The Pole elevation is intriguing after Wanya Morris was a healthy scratch last week,” Chiefs Digest insider Matt Derrick immediately commented. He also added that “Edwards may be filling in for the absence of Chris Roland-Wallace.”

While Edwards for the injured Roland-Wallace is a pretty cut-and-dry move, Pole’s elevation did raise some eyebrows.

A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman appeared to agree with Derrick, reacting: “The Edwards elevation makes me feel more strongly that the Chiefs are putting Chamarri Conner in the slot this week. However, the Pole move gives me hope that the starting O-Line might look different [in Week 13].”

KC Reporter Believes Esa Pole News Could Signal Surprise Jaylon Moore Start vs. Cowboys

In a follow-up article, Goldman explained what he meant by, “the Pole move gives me hope that the starting O-line might look different.”

“The Chiefs have some unique stuff going on with their offensive line right now, which makes the Esa Pole elevation all the more unique,” he wrote with A-to-Z Sports. “Chiefs starting RG Trey Smith has been ruled out for the Week 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys with an ankle injury. Chiefs backup OG Mike Caliendo is expected to start in Smith’s place, despite struggling in the second half of Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts. That leaves Hunter Nourzad as the lone backup interior offensive lineman on the 53-man roster.”

Goldman went on to note that KC chose to elevate Pole over reserve interior OL C.J. Hanson, and that Pole’s activation could mean Morris is a healthy scratch once again.

Concluding: “All in all, Pole’s elevation suggests the Chiefs may have a different plan for their offensive line in Week 13 against the Cowboys. During training camp, the Chiefs actually played swing tackle Jaylon Moore at right guard. Could he potentially be in line to start in place of Smith and not Caliendo? If that were to happen, I’d expect Pole to slide into the swing tackle spot.”

It’s a clever idea, and one that could potentially come to fruition in Dallas. We’ll just have to wait and see if head coach Andy Reid has any tricks up his sleeve come kickoff.

Chiefs Announce Return of Mike Edwards in Week 13

Edwards has yet to suit up for a regular season game in 2025, but let’s not forget that this is a former Super Bowl starter and champion of the 2023 squad.

The veteran safety may only serve as depth in Week 13, but he’ll be reliable depth if that’s the case.

The Chiefs still have three safeties that are likely to start ahead of Edwards, even without Roland-Wallace. Those players are Bryan Cook, Jaden Hicks, and the aforementioned Conner — who could spell Roland-Wallace at nickel.

That would set up Edwards as the first man up on the back end, which is still an important role.

Perhaps he’ll rotate in to give starters a breather, or perhaps not. But either way, it’ll be necessary to have Edwards active in case of injury.

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