Vikings' Rookie Quarterback J.J. McCarthy Out for 2024 Season After Knee Surgery
The Minnesota Vikings have suffered a significant setback as rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss the entire 2024 NFL season following surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. The team announced the devastating news on Tuesday, confirming that a full repair of the meniscus was performed by the team doctor on Wednesday morning.
McCarthy’s absence is a major blow to a team that had high hopes for their first-round draft pick. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed his deep disappointment, stating, "As crushed as I am for our team and the excitement we had in our building, and our fanbase felt the same way... I am the most crushed for J.J. But as our fans either have already come to find out or will in the future, this guy is so motivated and so dialed in."
McCarthy's impressive performance in Minnesota's preseason opener showed a glimpse of his potential, completing 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. However, knee soreness became evident after the game, and he reported more pain when he came into the facility on Monday. The medical staff swiftly decided to hold him out of practice, leading to Wednesday’s diagnosis and subsequent surgery.
With McCarthy sidelined, the Vikings are now looking to veteran quarterback Sam Darnold to lead the team. Darnold steps in as the presumptive starter, bringing experience and stability to a team already grappling with other challenges. The Vikings have been dealing with the prolonged absence of tight end T.J. Hockenson, who tore his ACL late last season, and wide receiver Jordan Addison, who is likely facing suspension following a DUI arrest earlier this summer. Addison sustained yet another injury in practice on Wednesday, though it is not believed to be serious.
O'Connell remains optimistic about McCarthy's future, despite the immediate setback. "As excited as I was to draft him, he's confirmed everything that I hoped to see, not only early on through training camp, first performance last Saturday, but he should — our fanbase and everyone should just be excited about the fact that we've got our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building," he said.
McCarthy now joins an unfortunate list, becoming the eighth quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL draft to miss his entire rookie season since the Common Draft era began. Notably, he is the first to miss his entire rookie season due to injury.
Despite the challenges, the coaching staff is focused on McCarthy’s long-term development. O'Connell highlighted the importance of keeping McCarthy mentally engaged during his recovery. "It's just about the unique aspect of continuing a very critical development process for him where maybe the physical reps aren't going to be there in the short-term. But this is going to be a small bump in the road. Other quarterbacks in our league have gone through similar things early on in their journey and come back stronger and better than ever. And that is not only my expectation, I know that is going to happen for J.J.,” he noted.
The injury has also impacted the Vikings' odds for the upcoming season. The team's total win projection dropped by half a win to 6.5. Their chances of winning the NFC North have dipped by 2.2%, and their probability of making the playoffs has decreased by 4.7% to a slim 10.3%.
In the meantime, the Vikings will need to rally behind Darnold and the remaining squad members. Coach O’Connell is looking at ways to keep McCarthy engaged and continue his learning process while he recovers. "Outside of the physical reps, there's just so many ways that now that the physical side and the path to physically playing the position the way we want is clearly there, it's now the [need to] really stress mentally above the neck where, how many ways and different sequences and different environments can we put him in that we can get as close to those reps as possible so that he has a seamless transition when that time is right," O’Connell explained.
The Vikings’ resilience and adaptability will be put to the test as they navigate a season filled with challenges. The loss of a promising rookie like McCarthy is a significant hurdle, but his potential and determination offer hope for the future. As the team rallies in his absence, fans and analysts alike will be watching to see how this chapter unfolds.