J.J. McCarthy has been dealing with knee soreness over the past few days, and he is now set to miss time. The Vikings rookie passer will undergo surgery, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
This procedure will be aimed at dealing with a meniscus issue, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network add. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has since confirmed a torn meniscus in the right knee. The outcome of the surgery will determine how long McCarthy is sidelined for. Today’s update confirms that free agent signing Sam Darnold is atop the quarterback depth chart for the time being.
Of course, Darnold was on track to operate as Minnesota’s starter to open the campaign. The former No. 3 pick entered training camp as QB1, and he is a veteran of 56 starts capable of serving as a bridge option while McCarthy develops. The latter has impressed so far in his acclimation to the NFL level, but going under the knife will halt his development at an important juncture.
McCarthy was one of six quarterbacks selected in the first round of this year’s draft, but questions have been raised regarding his ceiling as a pro passer. The Michigan product helped the team to an undefeated season and a national title in 2023, though his arm was not always a central element in the team’s success. Spending time on the sidelines in Minnesota to begin his career represented a logical plan, but that will now take place as a matter of necessity.
The Vikings saw Kirk Cousins depart in free agency, ushering in a new era under center for the team. Minnesota reportedly preferred to keep Cousins in the fold to help develop his eventual replacement, although re-signing the 35-year-old may have changed the team’s draft approach on Day 1. In the end, the Vikings wound up moving up to No. 10 overall and selecting McCarthy after failing to trade up to the third overall spot to secure Drake Maye.
A decision on which type of surgery will be undertaken will be made at the start of the procedure, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes. McCarthy’s recovery timeline is therefore uncertain at this point, but his focus will now turn to rehab while Darnold likely receives a multi-week run at the helm of the offense to start the campaign. Attached to a one-year, $10MM deal, Darnold’s free agent stock will depend on his performance in Minnesota. Today’s development paves the way for any questions about McCarthy surpassing him on the depth chart to be delayed.
Darnold might be worth a late round draft pick, someones gotta get the ball to Jefferson
Don’t do this. Their schedule is horrible to start the year and it doesn’t really change the JJ timeline unless the injury turns out to be longer than stated.
Giants away, San Francisco home, Houston home, Green Bay away. Imagine the horror in the NYC tabloids should the Jets’ former QB1 beat the Giants!
I’m confident the Giants can find ways to beat themselves without the help of a former Jets QB…link to youtube.com.
Darnold it is lol
Obviously this isn’t a good thing, but if you have to have a knee injury, generally better for it to be the meniscus, and it’s not like he was going to start right away anyway.
He wasn’t? Huh
He’s like the tenth youngest player in the NFL and he’s inexperienced for a first round QB, especially considering how Michigan rarely needed him to lead the way late in games because they were usually winning. It’s seemed pretty clear Darnold would open the season as the starter all offseason.
no. he wasn’t
The good part of it is it forces them to give him time and not start him immediately. He’s better off getting some time learning.
Good that it’s meniscus? Someone clearly has ZERO idea about knee injuries.
Rather meniscus than acl or nick chubb knee injury
He was
I think the big thing is how long will the recovery be? If the meniscus is just being cleaned up, then 4-6 weeks. But if the meniscus has to be repaired, then it’s a 6-9 MONTH recovery. Hope this surgery is just to clean up a small tear.
6-9 months for for a repair is very likely inaccurate. Mine took 10 weeks from surgery back to full contact hockey and I’m not an elite athlete.
Yea 6 yo 9 months is wrong. I’ve had 2 in my life ……you are right 2 to 3 months recuperating time
I have had both ACL and MCL tears, and mensicus tears repaired (not an athlete, but I thought I was) many, many years ago. But I believe the 6-9 months is accurate in today terms. This is a complete repair and not just a clean up. If not, JJ wouldn’t be out for the whole season, and he is now. The good news is he now gets the 1 year to learn the entire system thoroughly. The bad news is he will not get a chance to get more comfortable with the greater speed of the NFL.
Nobody is happier about this than Justin Jefferson
What?!?! You win the dumbest comment of the day award. Congratulations!
He literally seemed very disinterested in McCarthy during an interview
You never want to see a young player get hurt but this might actually benefit McCarthy and the team in the long run. The injury gives them a reason for Darnold to open the year as the starter and give McCarthy time to learn the playbook
And so begins the latest downward spiral of a 1st round Vikings draft choice of a Quarterback. Probably soon to end the job of the GM.
Hard to disagree here, but I do want McCarthy to be great.
It’s gonna be a long year in Minny, not that a healthy JJ was gonna move the needle much, but this will certainly hurt his development.
It’s a shame…feel bad for the guy…only good thing about a meniscus tear is that the recuperating time is quick..I’ve had 2 of them.