Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was a full participant at practice on Thursday, giving him a strong chance of starting Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

McCarthy began the week of practice limited thanks to a hairline fracture in his throwing hand he sustained in Week 16 against the New York Giants.

That injury kept him out of the Vikings’ 23-10 Christmas Day win vs. the Detroit Lions. Max Brosmer got the start at quarterback and threw for 51 yards.

McCarthy’s participation Sunday would be something of a surprise given the game’s stakes. Minnesota has already been eliminated from the playoffs at 8-8, while Green Bay is locked into the NFC’s No. 7 seed at 9-6-1.

Earlier in the week, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell was non-committal about McCarthy’s status, taking a wait-and-see approach, but he did express interest in having his starter back.

“I’d love to get him one more game, for sure,” O’Connell said.

The second-year player who missed his entire rookie season due to injury has gone 5-4 in nine starts this season, throwing for 1,450 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

–Field Level Media