Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy needed second procedure to address swelling in knee

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy required a second procedure to his right knee this week to address swelling that occurred during his physical rehab, coach Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday.

O’Connell said it’s not a setback for McCarthy, the 10th overall pick who suffered a season-ending torn meniscus during his first preseason game in August.

McCarthy required an exploratory procedure and an injection to relieve swelling. He remains on his “original timeline” to return, O’Connell said. The quarterback suffered a radial tear of the medial meniscus that required a full repair and a six-to-eight-month recovery.

“As his rehab has picked up, we noticed a little swelling in there,” O’Connell said at TCO Performance Center in Eagan. “Just wanted to make sure that there was no cause for concern. All reports were very positive and he’s on the original timeline, in good shape. I’ve just enjoyed as his rehab has progressed he can be in meetings and spend more time with us. Been some real growth for him.”

While he can’t practice with the team, McCarthy has remained close by. He has attended meetings and has been one of the few players frequently visiting the coach’s areas of team headquarters.

“He asks the right questions, and also knows when to ask and when not to ask during the game week and during meetings,” coordinator Wes Phillips said Tuesday. “He’ll catch you on the side. He’ll catch you in your office. He’ll be walking down the hall in the coach’s area. Not a lot of players around that coach’s area upstairs, but he’ll pop by and say, ‘Hey, I had a question on this.’ So, he’s just soaking it all up.”

Quarterback Sam Darnold (right hand), running back Aaron Jones (ribs) and left tackle Cam Robinson (foot) were among six players limited during Wednesday’s practice. O’Connell held a lighter, no-pads session in preparation for a harder-hitting padded practice Thursday. Edge rushers Andrew Van Ginkel (hip) and Gabe Murphy (knee) and tight end Josh Oliver (wrist) also had their reps limited.

Darnold clenched his right throwing hand in pain after an interception return in Jacksonville. He was evaluated during the game and returned. Robinson is also a new addition to the injury report.

“Just had a little soreness in his foot,” O’Connell said, “but everything checked out and he’ll just work through it.”

The Titans practiced without a few key players, including cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (quad), edge rusher Arden Key (back) and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (rest).

Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. has had an interception in three consecutive games. His four picks lead a Vikings defense that has an NFL-high 15 interceptions so far. He’s been so good that official NFL social media accounts posted a graphic including him as a candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. The problem is Murphy hasn’t been a rookie since 2019. The graphic was meant to reference Seahawks rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II.

“I was like, ‘Hey, I’ll take it, though,” Murphy said Wednesday. “You can put it under my belt. I’ll take all that.’”

“He’s got my vote,” cornerback Shaq Griffin said from a nearby locker.

O’Connell said Murphy’s impact has grown this season, his second in Minnesota, because he’s playing more as a slot defender when cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Griffin align on the outside.

“Murph really gets to be in that location where he’s so incredibly impactful,” O’Connell said. “He’s a willing and able tackler, great instincts, great ball skills and then if he’s got to on those early downs, whether it’s him or Steph [moving] outside, those guys are playing really, really well right now.”

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores said linebacker Blake Cashman’s return allowed him to diversify the blitz schemes in Jacksonville, where Cashman was the most frequent attacker with six pass rushes, followed by linebacker Ivan Pace Jr.’s five, safety Josh Metellus’ four, and safety Harrison Smith’s two.

“Having Cash back opens up a lot of things for us,” Flores said, “allows for us to send Metellus a little bit more, send [Smith] a little bit more. We’ll always send [Pace], and Cash blitzes as well. There’s a variety of things that happened there, and he kind of leads the way.”

Staff writer Ben Goessling contributed reporting.

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