EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy returned to practice on Wednesday, with his injured throwing hand improving enough to give him an opportunity to play in the final game of the season.
McCarthy's participation was limited, but he said afterward he felt like "the ball was spinning" when he passed it during drills. He had a “really positive throwing session” with the coaching staff and athletic trainers the day before, coach Kevin O’Connell said.
“The plan as of right now is to give him as much as possible just so we can determine where he’s at,” O’Connell said.
The Vikings (8-8) host the Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) on Sunday, a matchup with no impact on the playoffs for either team. The Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed, the final wild-card spot, and the Vikings were eliminated from contention on Dec. 14. They have won four straight games.
The Vikings announced two days after their win over the New York Giants on Dec. 21 that McCarthy was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right hand. He was sidelined just before halftime of that game and held out of the victory over the Detroit Lions last Thursday.
McCarthy, in his first interview session with reporters in two weeks, said he didn't know exactly when the injury occurred and indicated he'd been playing with it for awhile.
“It was just a multitude of things, things that happened over the year,” McCarthy said.
The 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft hit his throwing hand on a helmet during a follow-through on a throw in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 9. He wore a wrap in practice that week but did not miss any game time then.
McCarthy missed his entire rookie year after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, five games earlier this season because of a sprained ankle, and another game last month while he was in the concussion protocol.
Against the Giants, he wasn't noticeably injured until after he fumbled on a sack that was returned for a touchdown.
“I felt it right away when I went to the sideline. It was a great learning lesson for me to handle that situation a lot better in the future,” McCarthy said. “If I don’t feel like I can go, or if there’s any sort of gray, just take it into halftime, regroup from there.”
All the time lost to injuries, including perhaps playing with the hand problem, has set back his development. Playing against the Packers on Sunday would be a valuable experience for him and the team that must begin deeper discussions about his future and how to approach the quarterback position this offseason.
“Would love to get him another one, but obviously only if he’s medically cleared and can 100% do his job,” O’Connell said.
McCarthy said letting his teammates and coaches down with his performance has been the most difficult part of his season.
“It’s been a tough year, but we’ve learned a lot about each other and a lot about ourselves,” he said.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) reacts during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy stands on the sideline before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Bazoumana Touré scored in stoppage time as defending champion Ivory Coast recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Gabon 3-2 on Wednesday in the Africa Cup of Nations, which now enters the knockout stage.
Christopher Opéri crossed for Touré to head in the winner as Les Éléphants staged a dramatic comeback to finish top of Group F, just ahead of Cameroon, by virtue of scoring a goal more than the Indomitable Lions.
Opéri had also set up Evann Guessand for the equalizer in the 84th minute. Both of the late scorers were substitutes, as coach Emerse Faé was forced to make changes to counter Gabon's early dominance.
The Panthers raced ahead with goals from Guélor Kanga and Denis Bouanga, before Jean‑Philippe Krasso pulled one back at the end of the first half.
“We wanted this first place, and we had to work in the second half for it,” Faé said.
Five-time winner Cameroon also came from behind to beat Mozambique 2-1 in the other group game.
Both Ivory Coast and Cameroon finished with seven points each, with a goal difference of plus 2, but Ivory Coast scored five goals, compared to Cameroon’s four.
Mozambique also progressed to the last 16 as one of the four best third-place finishers.
Gabon was already eliminated after starting with two defeats.
Ivory Coast stays in Marrakech after winning the group and will next face Burkina Faso in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Cameroon was dealt a tough encounter against South Africa in Rabat on Sunday, and Mozambique will face Nigeria the next day in Fez.
In other confirmed matchups, 2021 champion Senegal will play Sudan in Tangier on Saturday before Tunisia plays Mali in Casablanca.
Host nation Morocco will face Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday, and seven-time champion Egypt will play Benin in Agadir on Monday.
Also, Algeria and Congo meet in Rabat on Tuesday.
Despite a 2-0 loss to Burkina Faso in its final group game, Sudan could look forward to the knockout stage after qualifying as one of the best third-place finishers.
Both teams were already assured of advancing before their Group E match Wednesday. Sudan progressed despite the complication of playing all its qualification games away from home as the country contends with a brutal war and humanitarian crisis.
“This is good for all Sudanese,” Sudan coach James Appiah said.
Burkina Faso made a better start and the Stallions duly took the lead through Lassina Traoré in the 16th.
Sudan had a great opportunity to level when Burkinabe ’keeper Hervé Koffi bundled over Al Gozoli Nooh in the penalty area, but Nooh missed the resulting spot kick.
The Sudanese fans, who were in a majority at the Stade Mohammed V stadium, tried rallying the team. Yasir Mozamil was just wide, and Amar Abdallah missed another good chance for Sudan.
Arsène Kouassi sealed the Stallions' win with a late goal as Burkina Faso finished second in the group.
Algeria, already assured of topping the group, signed off before its last-16 meeting with Congo with a 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea, which finished with three defeats.
Zineddine Belaid, Fares Chaibi and Ibrahim Maza scored in the first half for Algeria.
Veteran forward Emilio Nsue – playing for the first time legally in the Africa Cup – scored a brilliant consolation for the National Thunder in the second half. The 36-year-old Nsue was the top scorer at the last edition, but FIFA in 2024 ruled he was never eligible over his 11 years playing for Equatorial Guinea. He was finally cleared to play in March this year.
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
Ivory Coast's Evann Guessand celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast's Evann Guessand celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast players celebrate after scoring a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast fans cheer their team during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast's Bazoumana Touré scores during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
