J.J. McCarthy headed into the locker room with medical staff before the rest of his teammates right before the end of the first half of Sunday's Week 16 game against the New York Giants, and the sight of it immediately sent a burst of concern throughout the entire Minnesota Vikings fan base.
McCarthy was eventually ruled out for the second half with an injury to his throwing hand, and that news didn't do anything to ease the stress of Vikings fans. However, Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell did reveal after the matchup that initial tests on the quarterback's hand came back negative, indicating that he avoided a serious injury.