The Minnesota Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, trading up with the New York Jets to secure the position. Unfortunately, McCarthy missed his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus. As a result, Sam Darnold started the season as the team’s QB1, with McCarthy’s injury preventing him from competing for the starting role.
However, recent updates offer positive news about McCarthy’s recovery. According to KTSP’s Darren Wolfson, a close source confirmed on January 21 that McCarthy is expected to be healthy by September. “All signs do point to J.J. being okay healthwise,” Wolfson reported, adding that those close to McCarthy are confident he’ll be ready for the upcoming season. This news is certainly a relief for the Vikings, who have faced uncertainty at the quarterback position with both Darnold and late-season addition Daniel Jones.
- J.J. McCarthy
McCarthy underwent two surgeries to address his meniscus injury, but he remained optimistic about his recovery and readiness for the season. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, while more cautious, shared a similarly optimistic outlook on McCarthy’s progress. “I’m very excited about where J.J.’s at,” O’Connell said during a press conference on January 16. “He’s returned to on-field training and is right where we hoped he would be to have the type of offseason needed to answer whether he’s ready to start.”
O’Connell also emphasized how McCarthy benefited from observing Darnold throughout the season, allowing him to gain valuable insight into the offense. O’Connell believes that a productive offseason will give McCarthy the opportunity to further familiarize himself with the system and determine his readiness to take on a more prominent role in 2025.
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