Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during practice on Monday, head coach Kevin O'Connell announced on Tuesday. McCarthy will undergo surgery and is expected to miss an indefinite amount of time, putting his Week 1 starting aspirations on hold.
The Minnesota Vikings received a significant blow on Tuesday when rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy underwent a procedure to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. The injury occurred during Monday's practice, and McCarthy will now be out indefinitely.
McCarthy was competing with Sam Darnold for the starting quarterback role, and his injury leaves Darnold as the clear frontrunner. McCarthy started the Vikings' preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders last week and played well, completing 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Tears Meniscus, Out Indefinitely
The Vikings traded up to select McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy was a standout at Michigan, leading the Wolverines to a 15-0 record and a national championship in 2023.
In two seasons as Michigan's starting quarterback, McCarthy completed 68.5% of his passes for 5,710 yards, 44 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also ran for 1,148 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Tears Meniscus, Out Indefinitely
McCarthy's injury is a major setback for the Vikings, who were hoping to have a young, dynamic quarterback leading their offense in 2024. Darnold has started 50 games in his career, but he has struggled to consistently play at a high level.
The Vikings will likely need to bring in another quarterback to compete with Darnold for the starting job. Some potential candidates include Jimmy Garoppolo, Andy Dalton, and Tyler Huntley.
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Tears Meniscus, Out Indefinitely
McCarthy's injury is also a blow to the Vikings' hopes of making a playoff run in 2024. The Vikings have not won a playoff game since 2019, and they have not made it to the NFC Championship Game since 2017.
The Vikings will open the 2024 regular season on September 11th against the Green Bay Packers. It is unclear at this time who will start at quarterback for the Vikings in that game.
