Vikings' Rookie Quarterback J.J. McCarthy to Miss Entire 2024 Season
The Minnesota Vikings have encountered a major setback as rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss the entire 2024 NFL season due to a torn meniscus in his right knee. This unfortunate news was confirmed on Tuesday by the team, and it was announced that a full repair was necessary.
McCarthy, who reported knee soreness on Monday, did not practice after his promising performance in Minnesota's preseason opener. In that game, McCarthy completed 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, showing flashes of his potential. However, his knee soreness became evident post-game, leading to further medical evaluation and eventually surgery on Wednesday morning by the team's doctor.
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." Despite the setback, O'Connell remains positive about McCarthy's future, emphasizing the rookie's potential and work ethic.
The injury marks McCarthy as the eighth quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL draft in the Common Draft era to miss his entire rookie season, and notably, the first to do so due to an injury. O'Connell expressed confidence in McCarthy's recovery and development, saying, "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."
With McCarthy sidelined, Sam Darnold is now the presumptive starter for the Vikings as they approach the upcoming season. This development has led to adjustments in the team's projections. The Vikings' total win projection for the season has decreased by half a win to 6.5, their odds to win the NFC North have dropped by 2.2%, and their chances of making the playoffs have dipped by 4.7% to 10.3%.
The team is also dealing with other challenges, including the prolonged absence of tight end T.J. Hockenson, who sustained an ACL tear late last season. Additionally, wide receiver Jordan Addison is facing a likely suspension following a DUI arrest earlier this summer and recently sustained a minor injury in practice on Wednesday.
Despite these challenges, O'Connell remains hopeful and steadfast in his belief in McCarthy's abilities and future with the team. He remarked, "Checking the boxes of the physical part of it, there is no question in my mind the physical talent that J.J. has. 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."
O'Connell also highlighted the importance of McCarthy's mental preparation during his recovery period, stating, "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."
While the loss of McCarthy for the season is certainly a blow, the Vikings are determined to adapt and remain competitive. The coaching staff and the team are committed to ensuring McCarthy's successful recovery and are optimistic about his potential impact in future seasons. The road ahead may be challenging, but with McCarthy's talent and determination, the Vikings can look forward to a bright future once he returns to full strength.