Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy out for 2024 season after meniscus surgery

Minnesota Vikings fans will have to wait a while to see J.J. McCarthy on the field again.

The 2024 first-round draft pick underwent a full meniscus repair Wednesday. Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that the rookie will be out for the 2024 season.

McCarthy injured himself in his NFL preseason opener. He stayed in the game despite his knee being sore, and the Vikings took a closer look at it two days later. The Vikings discovered a torn meniscus in McCarthy’s knee, but initially said they wouldn’t know the extent of the injury and a timetable for return until surgery was performed.

McCarthy wasn’t expected to start the regular season. The team’s plan was for Sam Darnold to begin the season as QB1 to allow McCarthy time to sit and learn. That decision was finalized for the team with McCarthy’s injury.

For a while, Vikings fans will have to hold onto the images of McCarthy’s first preseason game. He played very well. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns against the Las Vegas Raiders. Most of his work came against players far down the Raiders’ defensive depth chart, but he still looked decisive and made nice throws. It was a positive debut, followed by some bad injury news.

The Vikings will be careful with McCarthy’s return. They traded up to the 10th overall pick to take McCarthy and have been cognizant of doing what’s best for his development ever since picking him. That plan didn’t include a preseason injury, which puts a damper on the Vikings season before it even starts.