EAGAN, Minn. — J.J. McCarthy will be sidelined for Minnesota's Week 17 Christmas Day game against the Detroit Lions, Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announced Tuesday.

O'Connell said further imaging than an X-ray Sunday revealed a "very, very small hairline fracture that was discovered in McCarthy's hand."

He said McCarthy's availability for the season finale against the Packers in Week 18 will continue to be evaluated.

McCarthy left Sunday's win at the New York Giants late in the first half. His final snap of that game was a tunnel screen designed to get the ball to the perimeter.

O'Connell said after the game that the first-year starter was struggling to grip the football. The result was a fumble, shown on slow-motion replay, before a massive hit by Brian Burns, who was unblocked on the right side of Minnesota's formation by design of the play.

O'Connell said there were "some potential candidates" of plays on which the injury occurred but McCarthy was "not entirely sure exactly when it was."

Tyler Nubin returned the ball 27 yards for a touchdown, and Max Brosmer entered the game with less than a minute remaining before halftime.

Brosmer, an undrafted rookie, will be in position to make his second career start. He completed 19 of 30 passes for 126 yards but suffered four interceptions at Seattle on Nov. 30.

The former Golden Gopher was steady this past Sunday after relieving McCarthy, going 7-of-9 passing (77.8 percent) with 52 yards and recorded his first career game-winning drive. That possession featured a brilliant 21-yard pass to Justin Jefferson along the sideline to convert third-and-17.

Brosmer will be backed up by John Wolford, who has appeared in seven games and made four starts with the Rams from 2020-22.

The Vikings (7-8) are seeking their fourth consecutive victory and a season sweep of the Lions (8-7). Minnesota is already eliminated from postseason contention; Detroit needs to win out and have Green Bay lose out to make the playoffs.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (CT) Thursday. The game will be streamed internationally by Netflix (and televised in the Twin Cities by WCCO).

O'Connell said he's been pleased with the way McCarthy has progressed down the stretch after previously missing five games with a high-ankle sprain suffered against the Falcons in Week 2 and another contest because of a concussion suffered at Green Bay.

McCarthy and the Vikings are 3-0 so far in December, snapping a four-game losing streak on Dec. 7 at home against Washington.

"It's been a blast, being with him every day and kind of being along that ride with him," O'Connell said. "Although we've lost time to continue that throughout the season, and we're experiencing that again here on a fast-opportunity-type short week. That doesn't take away from the growth we've seen from J.J. He's dialed in. He was out here for the walk-throughs, being a part of things, and wants to stay 100% locked and loaded in the hopes of returning next week, hopefully. Obviously, we're going to be smart with him and see where it takes us."

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