Vikings rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy has a torn meniscus in his right knee that will require surgery, Minnesota’s head coach, Kevin O’Connell, said on Tuesday.
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McCarthy was hurt at some point on Saturday during his preseason debut, when he went 11 for 17 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against Las Vegas. McCarthy reported persistent soreness to the team when players reconvened on Monday. The team then sent McCarthy, who was the No 10 overall pick in this year’s draft and led Michigan to the national title last season, for further evaluation. It was there that the injury was diagnosed.
The Vikings had not yet determined a date for the procedure or learned how long the 21-year-old will need to recover, meaning McCarthy could be back in about a month or miss the entire season. The rehabilitation for a full repair is much longer than if there’s just a partial tear, and the severity is typically not known until the procedure takes place. Even if McCarthy’s injury is considered minor and he comes back on the shorter end of the range of timetables, the development is a big blow considering the promise he has shown and the plan to increase his turns with the first-team offense as the new season approaches.
The Vikings were traveling on Tuesday for two days of joint practices and a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Sam Darnold has been on top of the depth chart at quarterback all spring and summer and will now be solidified as the starter to open the season. Nick Mullens will be the clear backup, with Jaren Hall also on the roster entering his second year. O’Connell said he had no immediate plan to add another quarterback.
