Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been ruled out for the season after successful surgery on the meniscus in his right knee, coach Kevin O’Connell announced Wednesday. McCarthy was evaluated for knee soreness after reporting the injury Monday afternoon.
“He underwent that meniscus surgery this morning,” O’Connell told reporters. “It revealed that a repair was necessary, ending JJ’s 2024 season.”
The Vikings selected McCarthy out of Michigan with the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Sam Darnold, entering his seventh season in the league, will assume the starting quarterback duties in McCarthy’s absence when Minnesota opens the regular season on the road against the New York Giants on Sept. 8.
“It’s going to be a little bump in the road,” O’Connell said. “Other quarterbacks in our league have gone through similar things and come back stronger and better than ever. It’s not just my expectation, but I know it’s going to happen for JJ.”
O’Connell has yet to name a starting quarterback for the regular season, but McCarthy has shown potential for the position. The Vikings’ organization and fan base will have to wait a season to see the college football national champion QB take his talents to the NFL.
“Our fan base and everybody should be excited about having our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building,” O’Connell said.
What was O’Connell’s reaction Wednesday afternoon?
He was certainly disappointed and upset considering the trajectory he felt McCarthy had on Sunday, going 11-for-17 against the Raiders. O’Connell also lamented that his team, which had suffered blow after blow in several respects (the tragic death of Kyrie Jackson and McGee Blackmon’s ACL), was now crushed again.
O’Connell spoke candidly, saying he enjoys watching the development of McCarthy, still 21, every day. He was part of a practice that brought him back to his days as a quarterbacks coach early in his NFL coaching career. O’Connell expressed confidence in the 2024 team and said he believes the Vikings culture and roster are built to last. But he was definitely down for understandable reasons. — Alec Lewis, writer of the Vikings beat
What does this mean for 2024?
It’s already shaping up to be somewhat of a transition season. According to Over the Cap, the Vikings absorbed about $60 million in dead cap money. They had long planned to switch from old and expensive players to developing youngsters. Darnold was brought in as a bridge to McCarthy, and while he’s always likely to start Week 1, the responsibility weighs heavily on him.
Also noteworthy were the comments made recently by co-owner Mark Wilf. He said he would not pursue extension talks for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell’s contracts until after the season. How could the franchise fully make that assessment without seeing McCarthy? The Vikings currently have just three draft picks for next season (one first-rounder and two fifth-rounders).
A down year won’t lead to the type of fill-in needed to add depth to the roster. — Lewis
Required reading
(Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
