J.J. McCarthy Returns to Practice, Nears Return in Vikings' Season Finale vs. Packers

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has made significant progress in his recovery from a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. McCarthy returned to practice on Wednesday, participating in limited drills and expressing optimism about his chances of playing in the final game of the season against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. According to coach Kevin O'Connell, McCarthy's throwing session with the coaching staff and athletic trainers on Tuesday was 'really positive.' McCarthy himself felt a sense of relief, saying the ball was 'spinning' when he passed it during drills. The Vikings' decision to give him as much practice time as possible is aimed at determining his readiness to play. Although the game against the Packers has no impact on the playoffs, it would be a valuable experience for McCarthy, who has struggled with injuries throughout his rookie season. The quarterback has missed several games due to a torn meniscus, sprained ankle, and concussion protocol. He now faces the challenge of managing his hand injury, which he believes has been a problem for some time. McCarthy has been open about the difficulties he has experienced this season, citing the pressure of letting his teammates and coaches down with his performance. Despite the setbacks, the Vikings have won four consecutive games, and the team is looking forward to the opportunity to give McCarthy another chance to play. O'Connell has expressed his desire to see McCarthy play, but only if he is medically cleared and can perform at 100%. The Vikings' coach acknowledged that the quarterback's development has been impacted by the string of injuries, and the team will need to reassess their approach to the quarterback position in the offseason.