Vikings rookie J.J. McCarthy out for season after successful meniscus surgery on right knee

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was ruled out for the season after having successful surgery on the meniscus in his right knee, coach Kevin O’Connell announced Wednesday. McCarthy underwent testing related to knee soreness after he reported the injury Monday afternoon.

“He did undergo surgery this morning on that meniscus,” O’Connell told reporters. “It did reveal that a repair was necessary, which will end J.J.’s 2024 season.”

The Vikings selected McCarthy out of Michigan with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Sam Darnold, who is entering his seventh season in the league, will likely assume starting quarterback responsibilities in McCarthy’s absence when Minnesota’s regular season begins Sept. 8, on the road against the New York Giants.

“This is going to be a small bump in the road,” O’Connell said. “Other quarterbacks in our league have gone through similar things, and came back stronger and better than ever. That is not only my expectation, but I know that’s going to happen for J.J.”

O’Connell had yet to name a starting quarterback for the regular season, but McCarthy showed flashes of potential to this point. The Vikings’ organization and fan base will have to wait a season to see the college football national champion QB take his talents to the NFL.

“Our fanbase and everyone should just be excited about the fact we’ve got our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building,” O’Connell said.

He was certainly disappointed and upset for McCarthy considering the trajectory he felt like McCarthy was on after Sunday’s 11-for-17 showing against the Raiders in the preseason. O’Connell was also down about the fact that his team, which has taken body blow after body blow in a multitude of aspects (Khyree Jackson’s tragic death and Mekhi Blackmon’s ACL) was now crushed again.

O’Connell even spoke honestly, saying he’d been having loads of fun watching McCarthy, still just 21 years old, develop daily. He’d been a part of the coaching, which brought him back to some of his days as a quarterbacks coach early in his NFL coaching career. O’Connell projected confidence in the 2024 team, and he said he believed this Vikings culture and roster was built to withstand. But he was definitely down for understandable reasons.

It was already set to be somewhat of a transition season. The Vikings absorbed about $60 million in dead cap money, according to Over The Cap. They had long planned to shift from aging and expensive veterans to developmental youth. Darnold was brought in to be a bridge for McCarthy, and even though he was always likely to start Week 1, the onus on him is that much more weighty.

Also notable are the comments offered recently by co-owner Mark Wilf. He said he would not broach extension conversations for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell’s contracts until after the season. Without seeing McCarthy, how will ownership be able to make that evaluation in full? There is also the relevant note that the Vikings only have three draft picks for next season at the moment (a first-rounder and two fifth-rounders).

A down year might not lead to the type of replenishing that’s needed to add depth to the roster.