Vikings Rookie QB J.J. McCarthy to Miss Entire Season Due to Knee Injury
In a significant blow to their 2024 NFL campaign, the Minnesota Vikings announced on Tuesday that rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss the entirety of the season following surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. The news was confirmed on Wednesday when the team detailed that a complete repair of the meniscus was necessary.
McCarthy's surgery was performed by the Vikings' team doctor on Wednesday morning, marking the onset of a lengthy recovery period that will sideline the young quarterback for the entirety of his first season in the NFL. This unexpected turn of events repositions Sam Darnold as the presumptive starter heading into the upcoming season.
The injury came to light when McCarthy reported knee soreness upon arriving at the team facility on Monday. The medical staff, taking precautionary measures, kept him out of practice after assessing his performance in the preseason opener. McCarthy's impressive debut saw him complete 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. However, his knee soreness became more apparent after the game, leading to further medical evaluation and ultimately, surgery.
“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.,” said Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. “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 pathway to the NFL was marked by high expectations and considerable enthusiasm from the Vikings' organization. Selected in the first round of the NFL draft, McCarthy's presence had sparked a wave of optimism among fans and team members alike. He is now the eighth quarterback in the Common Draft era to miss his entire rookie season, and notably, the first to do so due to an injury.
The implications of McCarthy’s absence are profound for the team. The projections for the Vikings' total wins this season have dropped by half a win to 6.5. Furthermore, their odds of winning the NFC North have decreased by 2.2%, and their chances of securing a playoff spot have dipped by 4.7%, falling to 10.3% overall.
“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,” O'Connell remarked.
This injury compounds an already challenging situation for the Vikings, who are grappling with the prolonged absence of tight end T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson suffered an ACL tear late last season and remains a key player that the team is missing. Adding to the turbulence, wide receiver Jordan Addison is facing a likely suspension following a DUI arrest earlier this summer. Addison also sustained an injury in practice on Wednesday, although it is not believed to be serious.
The Vikings must now navigate these challenges without their promising rookie quarterback. The team’s plans to integrate McCarthy into the offense will have to be postponed, shifting the focus to his recovery and long-term development.
“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,” O’Connell emphasized. “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.”
Even without physical reps, O’Connell underscored the various ways McCarthy can continue his development. “Outside of the physical reps, there are 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.”
While McCarthy begins his recovery, the Vikings remain steadfast in their belief in his potential and future impact on the team. The road ahead may be daunting, but the young quarterback’s journey is far from over.