Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, center Ryan Kelly and running back Jordan Mason were all sidelined by injuries during the first half of Sunday's Week 16 game at the New York Giants.

McCarthy suffered an injury to his right hand late in the second quarter. He left the game after a monster hit by Brian Burns, who was unblocked off the right side of the offense. McCarthy fumbled the ball, and it was scooped and scored by Tyler Nubin, a 27-yarder that made it 13-10 Vikings just before halftime.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell said after the game he did not yet know the extent of McCarthy's injury but it apparently happened before the first-year starter scrambled for a 12-yard rushing touchdown with 2:01 remaining in the second quarter.

"I was actually concerned with the angle that I had when he did run it in. I just wanted to make sure he, you know, I thought he got hit in the head or neck area going into the end zone, but he was clean there," O'Connell said. "And then I asked him if he was all right. He said he was. And obviously we had just scored a touchdown, big moment. But then we went out for the next drive. That's when he seemed to have some discomfort there, so we'll evaluate it and make sure we find out what's going on there.

O'Connell said McCarthy didn't mention discomfort when he returned to the sideline after the touchdown.

"I've done something pretty similar — quarterbacks hit their hands all the time, whether it's helmets or defenders and things like that," O'Connell said. "It happened to me in college, and I didn't even know I had a significant injury until the next time I took a snap.

"We ran the ball in first-and-10 [on that drive], and then just trying to throw a simple receiver screen, very similar to what we had thrown to Justin [Jefferson] on some of those third-and-long conversions," O'Connell added. "And I'm not sure he was able to even grip the ball, but I don't know if he knew or not at that point. I have not had a chance to talk to him. They took him away to evaluate him. But yeah, he was unable to grip the football."

Thus, having Burns unblocked was part of the play's design, since the intent was for the ball to come out fast.

O'Connell said he was pleased with multiple levels of decision-making and execution by McCarthy before the QB left his ninth career start.

Max Brosmer entered the game to take one kneel-down to finish the first half and remained in the game in the third quarter. He protected the football and went 7-for-9 passing with 52 yards, highlighted by a 21-yard completion to Jefferson on third-and-17. Brosmer garnered his first career game-winning drive during that possession.

Earlier in the half, Minnesota lost Kelly during a run on fourth-and-1 that resulted in a gain of 3 by Aaron Jones, Sr., who is playing through an ankle injury that briefly sidelined the veteran.

Kelly entered concussion protocol after having missed time earlier this season in the protocol.

Mason left the game with an ankle injury after catching a pass for 6 yards during Minnesota's first possession.

McCarthy finished the day 9-for-14 passing with 108 yards, an interception and a passer rating of 58.0.

He also scrambled twice for a total of 20 yards, highlighted by an impressive 12-yard touchdown run to make it 13-3 with 2:01 remaining in the first half.

O'Connell said he did not know the timeline for McCarthy's recovery and whether it would be a season-ending injury.

"The only information I have is that X-rays were negative. But, you know, obviously the hand, there's a lot going on there, so I don't want to speculate one way or the other," O'Connell said.

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