Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell gave a blunt message when asked about the possibility of benching quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

It feels like false hope, but Justin Jefferson believes in J.J. McCarthy. Minnesota doesn't want to find out what it looks like when that stops being the case.

The Vikings' defense did a good job against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, yet Minnesota really never had a chance to win, because J.J. McCarthy was brutally bad. The final stats for McCarthy included 87 passing yards and two interceptions.

Last week against the Bears was probably the ugliest performance by McCarthy up to that point, at least if you grant him the excuses for his Week 2 dud against the Falcons (he missed practice that week while his son was born, and he finished the game playing through an ankle injury). This showing in Green Bay may have been even worse.

After starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy was placed in concussion protocol this week, the Minnesota Vikings will likely be forced to turn to undrafted rookie signal-caller Max Brosmer to start Sunday's road game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy remained in the concussion protocol on Wednesday, and is still uncertain to play this weekend. That means head coach Kevin O’Connell is getting undrafted rookie Max Brosmer ready for his first NFL start.