EAGAN, Minn. — If J.J. McCarthy is able to play Sunday, there's no doubt he'll be out there for his team.

The Vikings QB spoke with media members Wednesday following practice; time will tell over the next few days if his injured throwing hand responds well to activity.

"I felt really good today," McCarthy said. "I felt like the ball was spinning. We'll take it day-to-day."

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell earlier in the day told reporters McCarthy had a "really positive" throwing session Tuesday with training staff ahead of practicing at a limited capacity Wednesday.

"[We'll] see how he feels coming out of it, see if there's any restrictions or any issues, before working into another day tomorrow," O'Connell said. "We're at the point now, after the positive day yesterday, getting on the field today for practice, we'll see how it goes."

McCarthy noted the team "had a tremendous Wednesday" as the Vikings ready for their final game Sunday against Green Bay. Though they've already been eliminated from postseason contention, there's a shared desire to win a fifth straight game and end the 2025 campaign on a high note.

"The boys were really coming out today with a level of intent, focus, energy, urgency, and it was really awesome to kind of feel that momentum we've been building over the last few weeks carry into today," McCarthy said. "We've gotta keep doing that. A great divisional rival ahead of us, and it's going to be a lot of fun."

As the curtains close on 2025, McCarthy reflected on the ups and downs of a season that has included difficult losses and missed time due to multiple injuries.

He noted the bittersweet position in which Minnesota currently sits, stacking December wins but also plagued by thoughts of "what if" and "too late."

"It's win-at-all-costs when it gets late in the year," McCarthy said. "Everyone's banged up, and it's that willpower, falling into your … habits and your discipline in those habits. I feel like we did a lot of the things early on that helped us become successful in December, and it's encouraging to see it happen … but we've got to get in the dance, and we've got to make sure we don't end up in this position again — and take care of the [games] we've got to take care of."

McCarthy confessed he's struggled at times with feeling like he's let down teammates and coaches, which he called the "hardest thing for me."

"But you know, the most encouraging thing is seeing them pick me up and understanding the culture, the type of guys we have in that room — it's something special," he said. "So yeah, it's been a tough year, but we learned a lot about each other, a lot about ourselves and me personally."

McCarthy added he's learning to extend himself (and accept) grace, as well.

" 'Understand, you know, this is one of the hardest positions in the world, and you're 22 years old,' " he said when asked what advice he would give for himself at training camp. " 'It's going to take some time and really just keep taking those punches and keeping … at the end of the day, it's about showing up."

Which he's certainly done.

Jordan Addison spoke highly of McCarthy's mindset and work ethic even through adversity.

"He wants to be out there, and he wants to win more than anything," Addison said. "Every time he is out there, he's making sure he's doing everything to help the team win."

If McCarthy plays in Sunday's Border Battle, it will mark his 10^th NFL start — a significant benchmark along his development journey.

"With some of the stuff he's been able to do, thinking back to the Dallas game, moving the team in the first half of the Giants game and the Commanders game. I mean, a ton of stuff during this win streak has been about stacking plays, stacking for our team, just positives of complementary football, finding a way to win by any means necessary — every single game," O'Connell said. "Credit the players, that's what they've done. And J.J. has been a huge part of that and has continued, you know, looking at starts 7, 8 and 9, and we'd love to get him another one, but obviously only if he's medically cleared and can 100% do his job."

Some level of uncertainty heading into the weekend seems a fitting end to a season McCarthy and the Vikings have navigated with resilience.

He quipped that the first chapter of his hypothetical book would be a doozy of twists and turns.

"But at the end of the day, it's a beautiful picture, beautiful story that I'm really starting to understand the meaning of it and the reasoning behind it," McCarthy said. "And we're not done yet. There's still one more game left, and it's going to be a great opportunity for us to go out there and show who we are as an offense."

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