While the Minnesota Vikings are currently in the midst of a promising 7-2 season, one of the franchise’s most important players has been sidelined for the entirety of it.
That would be the Vikings’ 2024 first-round pick, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who is expected to miss the entirety of his rookie campaign with a torn meniscus he suffered in training camp.
It now appears that McCarthy’s recovery has hit a speedbump, with ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reporting that the former Michigan quarterback has undergone a second knee surgery to treat the injury. Per Seifert, the procedure has been described as a “biologic injection intended to address swelling in the knee that developed after an increase in activity during the rehabilitation process.”
Despite the second surgery, no major issues were reportedly found during the procedure and McCarthy remains on track to return for the 2025 season. In his absence, the Vikings have been relying on veteran quarterback Sam Darnold, who has enjoyed a career resurgence under Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell.
But with Darnold only under contract with the Vikings for the 2024 season, McCarthy very much remains the team’s quarterback of the future. Speaking to reporters in August, O’Connell said of the 21-year-old quarterback, “we’ve got our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building.”
[ESPN]
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.