BEREA, Ohio – Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell put a bright spin on the future Wednesday while delivering dark news about the present: J.J. McCarthy’s rookie season has ended after a mere 30 preseason snaps that had Vikings Nation buzzing over the possibilities of stardom sooner than later.
Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss 2024 season after knee surgery
The first-round pick had the repair done Wednesday as his teammates were in Cleveland for practice against the Browns.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
August 15, 2024 at 4:17AM
Ten months after losing Kirk Cousins to a season-ending injury, O’Connell announced that McCarthy, the 21-year-old quarterback picked 10th overall to eventually replace Cousins, needed a full repair of the torn meniscus in his right knee.
The surgery, performed Wednesday by Dr. Chris Larson at Twin Cities Orthopedics, was successful, allowing McCarthy to return immediately to the team facility to begin physical rehab and mental preparations for 2025.
O’Connell said McCarthy in his short time with the team has “checked all the boxes” that cement the team’s belief that it has found the right guy for the position long-term, and that this year will be remembered as but a “small bump” in McCarthy’s career path.
“Everyone should be excited that we got our young franchise quarterback in the building,” O’Connell said before his team’s joint practice with the Cleveland Browns. “Now, it’s about continuing the [mental] development. There is no question in my mind the physical talent J.J. has. He really started to look like an NFL quarterback,” completing 11 of 18 passes for 188 yards, two long touchdown passes and an interception while scrambling twice for 18 yards in last week’s preseason opener against the Raiders.
On Instagram, McCarthy (@jjmccarthy) posted: “A blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything thrown into it. -- Marcus Aurelius. #AMORFATI.” He also tweeted “Amor Fati” (to “love fate”) on the X platform Tuesday.
Meanwhile, veteran Sam Darnold, signed as a one-year bridge to McCarthy’s future, stays on track as the team’s now-undisputed Day 1 starter. He started and played one series last week against the Raiders but will not play Saturday in the preseason game against the Browns or next week in Philadelphia.
“Our football team is excited about this season and continues to be excited about Sam Darnold and what he’s been able to bring,” O’Connell said.
Nick Mullens, who went 0-3 with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions as a starter last year, is now locked in as the No. 2 quarterback and will start Saturday. He’ll be followed by second-year pro Jaren Hall. O’Connell said Mullens’ understanding of the offense gives him some comfort.
“He learned last year that he can be an explosive driver of our offense, and also had some lessons about taking care of the football,” O’Connell said. “[How to] play aggressively but not cross the line into turning the ball over. He can be a guy we can rely on.”
While the future might be bright, the present wasn’t pretty for the Vikings’ offense on Wednesday. The Browns’ defensive players, led by 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, were more aggressive, more physical and dominated every aspect of the practice.
Defenders broke up Darnold’s first three passes in individual drills, and things never got much better. At one point, Browns safety Juan Thornhill threw his head back and yelped, “Y’all can’t catch a cold!” The passing wasn’t much better. Ditto for the protection.
To make matters worse, second-year receiver Jordan Addison was carted off the practice field with a left ankle injury. He was going to get an MRI to determine its extent.
Cornerback Myles Harden had two of at least three interceptions thrown by Mullens. Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie jumped a Darnold pass intended for Justin Jefferson for a pick-six after being flushed from the pocket by Garrett, who whipped by left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
“I guess we just wanted it a little more than they did today,” Thornhill said after the practice. “Hopefully, they’ll bring a little more juice tomorrow for us.”
Vikings players talked about how the practice will help them in the long run.
“That’s one of the best defenses in football right there,” Darrisaw said. “We’ll be back tomorrow.”
Unfortunately for the Vikings, their future franchise quarterback remains back in the Twin Cities with nothing to do but look ahead to 2025.
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is completing more passes more often for more touchdowns than he ever has. “What we’re trying to get from Sam is to play the best football of his career,” coach Kevin O'Connell said.
