In an alternate universe, quarterback J.J. McCarthy didn’t suffer a small hairline fracture in his right hand, which meant he was able to continue his upward trajectory for the Vikings last weekend in a win over the New York Giants.
Let’s continue to play out the string.
If that were indeed the case, McCarthy would be able to start for the Vikings on Thursday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Detroit Lions. Then, assuming he got out of that game unscathed, once more next weekend against the Green Bay Packers.
That would pave the way for the Vikings to bring in a veteran quarterback in free agency as insurance on McCarthy, who, for all the strides he’s taken, has not yet proven he can be consistently available.
As much as that hypothetical scenario might’ve been great for McCarthy, the butterfly effect could have resulted in rookie quarterback Max Brosmer never playing in the NFL again.
The only line on Brosmer’s résumé would’ve been his start for the Vikings last month, when they got demolished by the Seahawks in Seattle. He looked completely overwhelmed by the moment amid a disastrous display that threatened to shake his confidence. He wasn’t going to let that happen.
“My dream has been to play in the NFL,” Brosmer said. “To define myself by that game wouldn’t be fair to the younger me.”
Luckily for Brosmer, he has been given a chance to atone. Coming on in relief last weekend, he showed the composure that earned him a roster spot after initially signing as an undrafted free agent. Not only did Brosmer effectively manage the game last Sunday, completing 7 of 9 passes for 52 yards, he led the Vikings down the field in the final minutes for a scoring drive that held up as the difference in a 16-13 win.
“It was a good feeling to be in the huddle with the guys,” Brosmer said. “We’ve got to see the fruits of our labor a little bit towards the end.”
Now, Brosmer is in line to to start for the Vikings against the Lions in a nationally televised game on Christmas, and perhaps even against the Packers depending on how McCarthy’s hand responds to treatment over the next week or so.
It’s a crossroads for Brosmer that has the potential to shape his life in the NFL. If he plays well over the next couple of games, he could carve out a niche as a reliable backup with room to grow. If he struggles, he might not be given another chance to prove himself.
There is precedence to suggests Brosmer will only get better the more he plays.
You don’t have to go back far to find the last time Brosmer made a pretty bad first impression. He was largely ineffective in his debut with the Gophers on Aug. 29, 2024, when his play contributed to a disappointing loss to North Carolina. He completed only 13 of 21 passes for 165 yards, got sacked a handful of times, and had a costly fumble in the final frame.
It was fair to wonder if Brosmer had bitten off more than he could chew as a graduate transfer jumping from the FCS level to the FBS level. His response was immediate, however, as he led the Gophers to a pair of wins to close out the nonconference schedule before he and the Gophers upset Southern Cal.
It was a steady build from there as Brosmer went on to put together the best campaign the program had seen from a quarterback in more than a decade. It would not have been possible had he not been given the chance to push through adversity early.
That mental toughness has been apparent with the Vikings.
“There are going to be games throughout the rest of my career where I might have a few picks, or we might lose a game where I felt like maybe I could’ve done something better,” Brosmer said. “I’m going to use that and continue to build and know that whenever that comes, next time in my career I’ll be ready to handle that.”
Is that easier said than done?
“It’s way easier said than done,” Brosmer said with a laugh. “I’ve had some really helpful people in my ear a little bit continuing to push me along and make sure that I’m staying on the right track.”
That tenacity has led Brosmer to this point. Perhaps this NFL journey is just beginning.
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