JJ McCarthy injury doesn't ruin plans for QB and Vikings

Storm clouds were gathering for Thor on Tuesday, but the hammer fell on Wednesday when the Minnesota Vikings learned JJ McCarthy is out until 2024 after the quarterback's surgery revealed his meniscus injury required a season-ending repair.

Head coach Kevin O'Connell admitted he was “devastated” when he reported the development before training.

Skol, Vikes fans. Now pour the mead.

But don't despair. The darkest clouds have their brightest sides, and as unfortunate as this setback may be for the team's prized rookie, the setback could very well pay off in the end.

The books on McCarthy, who is fresh off a national championship season at the University of Michigan, say he is a winner who went 27-1 during his time as a starter for the Wolverines and one with exceptional intangibles, underrated athleticism, familiarity with pro concepts and a knack for making big plays at crucial moments.

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EAGAN, MINNESOTA - JUNE 4: Quarterbacks JJ McCarthy #9, Sam Darnold #14, Jaren Hall #16 and Nick Mullens #12 of the Minnesota Vikings watch practice during the Minnesota Vikings mandatory minicamp at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on June 4, 2024 in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776155671 ORIG FILE ID: 2155443939

“This guy is so motivated and so focused,” O'Connell said Wednesday of McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the draft. “He confirmed everything I was hoping to see.”

“We have our young franchise quarterback in the building.”

Still, he doesn't (yet) have the experience of fellow 2024 draft contenders like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix, and he's been a cog in a Michigan machine for the past two seasons that sent 18 players to this year's scouting combine – the most in at least two decades. Any notion he could simply step in and replace the performance of the departed Kirk Cousins would likely be foolhardy, and the Vikings knew that.

While there is no one-size-fits-all method to start an NFL quarterback's career, a redshirt season — medical or otherwise — is often the optimal path. Just ask Aaron Rodgers. Or Carson Palmer. Or Philip Rivers. Just ask Cousins. As impressive as McCarthy looked in last Saturday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders, throwing for 188 yards and two touchdowns after replacing veteran starter Sam Darnold, Was preseason. The 10th pick in this year's draft wouldn't see standard schemes or receivers who normally run free — at least not ones not named Justin Jefferson — when the real games begin. And such a performance, coupled with McCarthy's winning aura, may have only increased the pressure on the Vikings to let him play early during the regular season, a fate that has befallen — and derailed — many first-round quarterbacks.

Just ask…Darnold.

Though he tends to be careless with the ball, Darnold's remarkable talent was rarely in question. His circumstances usually were. The third pick of the New York Jets in the 2018 draft, he left far fewer doubts about his potential or ability to lead a franchise than McCarthy did at USC. But Darnold fell victim to inflated expectations, a weak supporting cast, poor coaching and persistent cultural chaos. In Minnesota, McCarthy just had to manage expectations — and Darnold, now on his fourth team, was cut years ago.

But while McCarthy can now take advantage of the opportunity to watch, learn and ask as many questions as he wants without feeling like he's cramming for an exam, it's Darnold who can take full advantage of the benefits he's rarely had during his career — top-notch coaching in the QB1 role; a weapon like Jefferson plus complementary ones like wideout Jordan Addison (though he was injured during Wednesday's practice), tight end TJ Hockenson and tailback Aaron Jones; and a solid offensive line. Perhaps even more advantageous is that few expect this club, the reigning NFC North champions a year ago, to play a role in a loaded division … despite being one spot ahead last season, even after Cousins' season-ending Achilles tear in Week 8.

Minnesota is one of three teams to field at least four starting quarterbacks in 2023 and has gone with Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall for extended periods, with the latter two still on the roster. O'Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah thought Darnold, who received consistently rave reviews from San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan last season as a backup to Brock Purdy, was enough of an addition to give him $10 million (most of it guaranteed) for this season, high compensation for someone who presumably serves a facilitator role.

So that's almost certainly the Vikings. Darnold has been the presumptive Week 1 starter all offseason. Maybe Adofo-Mensah brings another arm into camp, but don't expect a beacon to go off for available veterans like Ryan Tannehill, Blaine Gabbert or Trevor Siemian. Any significant trade seems even more unlikely.

“Our football team has been and will continue to be excited about Sam Darnold and his contributions,” O'Connell said.

And that may be more wins than you'd expect from a player, especially one who knows for sure this is his best – and likely last – chance to prove he's a true starter in the league, just as fellow 2018 draft pick Baker Mayfield did last season with the NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

McCarthy may not be there right now, but his absence should create crystal clear waters that could have easily been muddied when Darnold inevitably encountered the first signs of trouble.

JJ McCarthy injury doesn't ruin plans for QB and Vikings

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