Vikings' J.J. McCarthy fined $11,593 for taunting after he threw stiff-arm, lowered shoulder vs. Packers
Before Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy pulled himself from a Week 18 win over the Green Bay Packers because of discomfort from a hairline fracture in his throwing hand, he left a mark.
Not so much by throwing for 174 yards in the first half against a playoff-bound Packers team resting its fair share of starters, but instead by a pair of moves he flashed in the opening quarter.
The second was more punishing than the first, and it set the stage for a $11,593 fine from the NFL, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
The NFL fined Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy $11,593 for unsportsmanlike conduct - taunting Packers CB Keisean Nixon after lowering his shoulder last week.
- Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 10, 2026
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This all stemmed from McCarthy turning into an escape artist on the opening drive of the regular-season finale. Facing a first-and-10 from the Packers' 29-yard line, he evaded a free rusher and then veered right. He threw a stiff-arm that dropped Green Bay linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper and then, soon after, lowered his shoulder while leveling Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon.
He picked up six yards on the play and provided some juice to the U.S. Bank Stadium crowd. But then he got in Nixon's face and let him have it with words, too, and that's when a flag arrived.
McCarthy was penalized for taunting, and the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty set Minnesota back on a potential touchdown drive that ultimately ended with three points.
Plus, the infraction cost McCarthy a good bit of money at the end of what's been a turbulent season, his second in the NFL.
In a way, that play is a microcosm of McCarthy's sophomore campaign. There were highs and there were lows. What was consistent was his inconsistency, and his durability issues.
A torn left meniscus sidelined him his rookie year. This season, he missed a total of seven games: five with a high right ankle sprain, one with a concussion and one with his hand injury that he tried to play through down the stretch.
He's missed 25 games, including the playoffs, due to injuries in his young NFL career. When McCarthy's been on the field, he's struggled with accuracy and turnovers.
There are some times when he makes head-turning throws and others when he misses layups. He completed only 57.6% of his passes this season while throwing 11 touchdowns against 12 picks.
Last week's game against the Packers was a chance for McCarthy to prove why he should keep the Vikings' QB1 job next season. Instead, he left it with another injury setback and a penalty that cost him $11,593.