MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings have announced that first-round pick J.J. McCarthy will miss his entire rookie season after undergoing a procedure on Wednesday to repair his meniscus.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell expressed his disappointment, stating, “I’m deeply saddened for our team and our fans, especially after seeing how well he performed at U.S. Bank Stadium recently. But I’m most heartbroken for J.J. himself. However, as our fans have already seen or will see, J.J. is highly motivated and focused. He has confirmed everything we hoped for when we drafted him.”
The team revealed that McCarthy’s injury required a complete repair. O’Connell had previously mentioned that the full extent of the injury wouldn’t be known until after the procedure.
O’Connell also emphasized that McCarthy’s development will continue, albeit in a different way than initially planned. He does not expect the injury to have any long-term effects on the 21-year-old quarterback.
“Our fans should be excited knowing that we have our young franchise quarterback in the building,” O’Connell added. “While the physical reps may be limited for now, this is just a minor setback in his development process.”
McCarthy sustained the injury during Saturday’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, where he completed 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
The Vikings selected McCarthy 10th overall in the April draft out of Michigan. Veteran quarterback Sam Darnold was already expected to start this season, but with Wednesday’s announcement, his role as the starter is now confirmed.