Vikings Face Major Setback as Rookie Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is Out for the Season
On Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings announced a significant blow to their roster as rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss the entirety of the 2024 NFL season. The disappointing news comes in the wake of McCarthy undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. The surgical procedure was completed swiftly on Wednesday, following the young quarterback's entry into the facility on Monday where he reported knee soreness.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell provided some insight into the situation. "Some kind of routine soreness that a lot of guys after their first preseason game sometimes come in with, and it was something we wanted to be smart about," he explained. McCarthy was immediately held out of practice for precautionary reasons. O'Connell continued, "Out of precaution, we’re going to continue an evaluation on him and get some more testing done. [He is a] very important player, obviously, so we want to make sure we’re smart before he participates, making sure we have a good understanding of where he’s at."
McCarthy showed impressive promise in his preseason debut, completing 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards and recording two touchdowns. His performance solidified his positioning as the No. 2 quarterback behind Sam Darnold throughout the offseason. Darnold, meanwhile, completed 4 of 8 for 59 yards in the recent preseason game, reflecting a more modest showing compared to McCarthy’s early display of talent.
The loss of McCarthy is a significant setback for the Vikings, who had positioned the rookie as a critical piece in their long-term plans. The impact is already visible in their projected performance metrics. The Vikings' total win projection for the season has dropped by half a win, now standing at 6.5 games. Additionally, their odds to win the NFC North have decreased by 2.2%, and their chances of making the playoffs have dropped 4.7% to a mere 10.3%.
Adding to the Vikings' woes, tight end T.J. Hockenson is still on the mend from an ACL tear suffered late last season. Meanwhile, wide receiver Jordan Addison faces potential disciplinary action following a DUI arrest earlier this summer. With these compounded challenges, the Vikings' campaign faces a host of uncertainties as they head into the season.
As the team navigates the fallout from McCarthy's injury and evaluates their strategy moving forward, one thing is clear – the resilience of the Minnesota Vikings will be thoroughly tested in the upcoming season.