On Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings delivered a blow to their fanbase, announcing that rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss the entire 2024 NFL season following surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. This announcement was further clarified on Wednesday when the team confirmed that a full repair of the meniscus was necessary.
Sam Darnold is now positioned as the presumptive starter for the Vikings heading into the upcoming season. Head coach Kevin O'Connell shared insights into McCarthy’s surgery, noting that it was performed by their team doctor on Wednesday morning. O'Connell stressed the thoroughness of the procedure, 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 setback marks a significant chapter in NFL history, as he becomes the eighth quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL draft in the Common Draft era to miss his entire rookie season. What sets McCarthy apart is that he is the first to encounter this misfortune due to an injury.
The young quarterback reported knee soreness when he came into the facility on Monday, prompting the medical staff to hold him out of practice. This cautious approach followed his performance in Minnesota's preseason opener, where McCarthy showed promise by completing 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Despite this impressive outing, the knee soreness was evident, and the team opted to prioritize McCarthy’s long-term health.
Reflecting on McCarthy's development, Coach O'Connell shared, "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."
Minnesota's fortunes without McCarthy have taken a hit, with the team’s total win projection for the season dropping by half a win to 6.5. Furthermore, their odds to win the NFC North have decreased by 2.2%, and their chances of making the playoffs have dipped by 4.7% to 10.3%. These statistics reflect the weight McCarthy’s presence would have carried for the team this season.
The Vikings are no strangers to adversity this year. The team is already coping with the prolonged absence of tight end T.J. Hockenson, who suffered an ACL tear late last season. Hockenson is still on the mend, working his way back to full fitness. In addition, 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, though it's not believed to be serious.
O'Connell remains optimistic about McCarthy’s recovery and future contributions to the team. "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 said.
McCarthy's presence and approach have left a lasting impression on the coaching staff. "Checking the boxes of the physical part of it, there is no question in my mind the physical talent that J.J. has," said O'Connell. "And even just for some of you guys who saw him back from Day 1 in the spring until really Saturday night, the transformation of a really good player, had really started to look like an NFL quarterback."
While the physical aspects of McCarthy's progress have been halted by this injury, O'Connell highlighted the importance of mental preparation. "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."
Though the news of McCarthy’s injury is undoubtedly a setback for the Vikings, the team and its fans can take solace in the belief that their young quarterback's journey is just beginning. His talent and motivation provide a strong foundation for a promising future with the Minnesota Vikings.