Minnesota Vikings fans will have to be patient before seeing J.J. McCarthy back on the field.
The 2024 first-round draft pick had a complete meniscus repair on Wednesday, and head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that he will miss the entire 2024 season.
Head Coach Kevin O’Connell announces that J.J. McCarthy underwent successful surgery this morning that required a full repair and he will miss the entire 2024 season.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 14, 2024
McCarthy sustained an injury during his NFL preseason debut. He continued to play despite experiencing knee pain, and the Vikings examined it two days later. They found a torn meniscus but indicated that the full extent of the injury and a recovery timeline wouldn’t be known until after surgery.
McCarthy wasn’t slated to start the regular season; the Vikings intended for Sam Darnold to take the lead as QB1, giving McCarthy time to learn. This plan has now been solidified due to McCarthy’s injury.
For now, Vikings fans will have to cling to the memory of McCarthy’s impressive preseason performance, where he completed 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns against the Las Vegas Raiders. Although much of his success came against lower-tier defenders, he showed decisiveness and made some impressive throws, marking a positive debut before the unfortunate injury news.
The Vikings will handle McCarthy’s recovery with care. Having traded up to select him with the 10th overall pick, they have been focused on his development since then. This unforeseen preseason injury has cast a shadow over the start of their season.
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