Vikings' McCarthy out for season after meniscus repair
Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy underwent a full meniscus repair and is out for the 2024 season, head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Wednesday.
McCarthy made his preseason debut Saturday but didn't practice Monday due to knee soreness. It was announced Tuesday that he would undergo surgery, but McCarthy had hoped a meniscus trim would be enough to allow him to play later in 2024. However, a surgical procedure on his right knee revealed that a repair was necessary, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
"(We) strongly believe he will come back better and have a long, successful NFL career," a team official told Schefter.
McCarthy is the first Round 1 quarterback of the common draft era to miss his entire rookie season due to injury, according to Doug Clawson of CBS Sports.
The repair was the best long-term option for McCarthy, notes Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Minnesota selected the Michigan product 10th overall in April after losing Kirk Cousins in free agency.
Minnesota will now officially turn to quarterback Sam Darnold, who signed in the offseason and had been competing with McCarthy for the starting role in training camp. The 27-year-old has 56 NFL starts under his belt but hasn't lived up to the hype since the New York Jets drafted him third overall in 2018. The Vikings are his third team in as many seasons.
Darnold has 63 touchdown passes against 56 interceptions over 66 career NFL appearances. This season will mark his first as a Week 1 starter since his 2021 campaign with the Carolina Panthers. His most recent start came with the San Francisco 49ers, who played him while resting their starters in the 2023 regular-season finale.
Darnold has been turning heads at practice in 2024 largely thanks to his long pass completions to receiver Justin Jefferson. McCarthy had been impressing as well, bouncing back from an interception in his preseason debut to pass for two touchdowns.
Quarterback injuries devastated the Vikings' 2023 season, forcing them to start four different signal-callers over the campaign. Minnesota finished with a 7-10 record and missed the playoffs for the third time in four years.
The Vikings' quarterback depth chart also features Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall.