Eagan, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy remained in the concussion protocol Wednesday, doing well enough for limited participation in practice but still uncertain to play this weekend.

The former Michigan quarterback was cleared to take part in individual drills but not full-team work, coach Kevin O’Connell said. Rookie Max Brosmer was running the first-team offense in preparation for potentially his first career start. The struggling Vikings (4-7) play at Seattle on Sunday.

NFL policy prohibits players in the concussion protocol from conducting media interviews. The Vikings did not make Brosmer available to reporters on Wednesday, preferring to wait until after their practice on Friday once their starter for the game is clear.

“As far as a zero hour, I don’t necessarily know if we’re looking at it like that,” O’Connell said. “But you do want to take into account what has his preparation been like, what has the practice week been like with what he’s able to do, while also knowing that ultimately this is not a hand or an ankle or anything like that. We’re talking about his head.”

McCarthy reported symptoms during the team’s flight home from Green Bay last weekend, a 23-6 loss during which the second-year player — who has only six career starts because of injuries — struggled again with accuracy and timing.

“We’re still not in a place to declare anything yet, just kind of listening to where it’s at right now and where it could get to,” O’Connell said. “We’re obviously going to be smart, both for what’s best for our team and what’s best most importantly for J.J.”

Whoever starts at quarterback might not have the full offensive line in front of him. After fielding the entire starting five against the Packers for the first time all season, left tackle Christian Darrisaw (foot) and left guard Donovan Jackson (ankle) departed the game with injuries. Neither player was practicing on Wednesday.

Both have a chance to play on Sunday, O’Connell said, but Jackson in particular will have to “improve from where he’s at right now” from a soreness standpoint.

Brosmer, who was undrafted after a stellar 2024 season at Minnesota as a graduate transfer from the FCS level at New Hampshire, impressed the Vikings throughout spring and summer practices enough to land a spot on the active roster — unwilling to risk losing him by trying to slide him through waivers and onto the practice squad.

“We have nothing but confidence in him and what he can do as a player,” tight end T.J. Hockenson said, “and it’ll be a good opportunity for all of us.”

Fields: I’m still a starting NFL QB

Justin Fields was caught off guard when he was sent to the bench last week — for perhaps the rest of this season and maybe his tenure with the New York Jets.

The embattled quarterback said he “of course” believes he’ll be a starter again in the NFL, though, either here or elsewhere.

“I just know who I am as a person, as a football player, as a hard worker,” Fields said Wednesday while speaking to reporters for the first time since he was replaced by Tyrod Taylor. “I know I have the mindset and the skill to attain that. I just feel like I need to do it on a more consistent basis. That’s just what it is. I’m in this position now and all I can do is just keep on working, keep on getting better and focus on it.

“It’s just life, you know? It’s the ups and downs of life.”

His subpar play was a major reason the passing offense ranked last in the NFL in yards per game for much of the season. After Fields went 15 of 26 for 116 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Patriots on Nov. 13, coach Aaron Glenn decided last week he was going to make a change at quarterback.

“Nah, I did not anticipate it, whatsoever,” Fields said.

For the season, Fields has passed for 1,259 yards — an average of just 140 yards per game — with seven touchdowns and one interception. Glenn said he needed to do what was best for the team by moving forward with Taylor.

Rams’ McCreary to IR

The Los Angeles Rams have placed cornerback Roger McCreary on injured reserve and claimed cornerback Derion Kendrick off waivers from Seattle.

The NFC-leading Rams (9-2) made the moves Wednesday.

McCreary has played mostly on special teams since being acquired in a trade with Tennessee last month. He finally got his first defensive snap in the Rams’ 34-7 victory over Tampa Bay last Sunday, but apparently injured his hip on the play.

Kendrick returns to the Rams, who drafted the Clemson and Georgia product in the sixth round in 2022. He started 18 games in his first two seasons with Los Angeles while playing extensively, but he missed the entire 2024 season after tearing a knee ligament in the first practice of training camp.

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