The Minnesota Vikings defeated the New York Giants 16-13 on December 21 at MetLife Stadium. However, the win came at a cost, with several players going down with injuries, including J.J. McCarthy, Ryan Kelly, and Jordan Mason, who were ruled out for the second half.
Moreover, other players on the Minnesota team are banged up and playing through injuries, including Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. The veteran injured his ankle and, at times, limped on the field. However, with Mason injured, he remained in the game.
After the win over New York, Jones spoke with FOX Sports’ Megan Olivi and shared why he played through his injury.
“Just being there for my teammates,” Jones said about playing through pain and the injuries that the team suffered. “We had guys go down, saw my fellow running back go down, and thought, ‘Man, there’s only one left.’
“I’ve got to go out there. So it’s a lot of that. We’re doing it for each other, and I feel like that’s contagious—it shows on the field. At the end of the game, we’re playing for each other. The whole game, we’re playing for each other, but you really see it at the end.”
J.J. McCarthy Gets Injured Again
McCarthy left the game after Giants linebacker Brian Burns sacked him with 25 seconds remaining in the first half. The hit caused a fumble, which safety Tyler Nubin recovered and returned for a touchdown. He didn’t return after visibly wincing while medical staff examined his hand and was later ruled out with a right-hand injury.
Furthermore, McCarthy’s time with the Vikings has been plagued by injuries since the team selected him with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft. He missed his entire rookie season after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. This year, a right ankle sprain sidelined him for five games, and a concussion kept him out for another.
When he has been on the field, his performance has been uneven. Before leaving the contest, McCarthy went nine of 14 for 108 yards with one interception. He was sacked three times but added a 12-yard rushing touchdown late in the second quarter.
The Vikings’ Other Injuries
Mason (ankle) and Kelly (concussion) were other key players who didn’t play in the second half against the Giants.
Kelly suffered his third concussion of the season and the sixth of his NFL career. He had three concussions during his first eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. This year, he was diagnosed with concussions in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons and Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers before the Vikings placed him on injured reserve.
After returning last month, Kelly switched helmets and started wearing a Guardian Cap during games. The decision appeared to be working, as the game against the Giants marked his fifth outing since returning.
As for Mason, he was injured on the opening drive. He was on the field after Jones left with an ankle injury on his first carry. Mason had two rushes for five yards on the drive, and the injury happened at the end of a six-yard reception.
It will be interesting to see if any of these three players play in Week 17, as it’s a short week with the Vikings playing on Christmas Day against the Detroit Lions.
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