The Minnesota Vikings were expected to decide their new starting quarterback with a competition between veteran Sam Darnold and rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. But after some rather unfortunate news, the Vikings aren’t actually going to have to make a decision, after all.
After J.J. McCarthy impressed with his preseason debut over the weekend, he was sidelined from practice with soreness in his knee that turned out to be a torn meniscus. It was not immediately clear how long the injury was going to sideline McCarthy, but NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that McCarthy will miss the entire 2024 season.
“#Vikings first-round QB JJ McCarthy underwent a full meniscus repair this morning and is out for the 2024 season, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.The repair, done by Dr. Chris Larson at Twin Cities Orthopedics, gives McCarthy the best chance at a long, successful career,” Rapoport said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
#Vikings first-round QB JJ McCarthy underwent a full meniscus repair this morning and is out for the 2024 season, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.
The repair, done by Dr. Chris Larson at Twin Cities Orthopedics, gives McCarthy the best chance at a long, successful career. pic.twitter.com/t5e5LCvpwU
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 14, 2024
With McCarthy not out for the season, that means Sam Darnold will now be the team’s starting quarterback this season, taking over after the departure of Kirk Cousins, who left the team to sign with the Atlanta Falcons this summer.
Obviously, this news led to a lot of reactions on social media.
Great opportunity for Sam Darnold. No one can say he doesn’t have weapons around him this time. https://t.co/o3xHUw5MtE
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) August 14, 2024
jeeeeez that's tough
one last chance for my boy Sam Darnold though! https://t.co/ZeHgajhoOX
— TBD 🇵🇾 (@YoungBuck_21) August 14, 2024
Darnold Heads, it’s our time https://t.co/4A5YxzXjcZ
— Conor Duffy (@CDuff3346) August 14, 2024
This absolutely sucks. But I guess it’s time to see what Sam Darnold can do! https://t.co/PvTiFOrGJ0
— Anthony DiBona (@DiBonaPFN) August 14, 2024
Sam darnold comeback player of year thank me nfl honors weekend https://t.co/q06a5PgS18
— Derrick (@_Dnett) August 14, 2024
Sam Darnold szn is upon us
— Gridiron Gage (@gridirongage) August 14, 2024
sam darnold szn
— Billy D. (@4DTOUGH) August 14, 2024
We’ll have to see how Darnold performs.
