J.J. McCarthy's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) missed training camp practice on Monday with knee soreness, and tests revealed a meniscus issue that will require surgery. As with most meniscus surgeries, there will be a determination made during the procedure to either trip or repair. A trim would mean out for only a few weeks, but a full repair would mean many months on the sidelines. Regardless of which outcome it is for the 21-year-old 12th overall pick in this year's draft, he will not be opening his rookie campaign as Minnesota's starting QB. Instead, that designation will fall to former first-rounder Sam Darnold, who opened training camp listed as the QB1 on the unofficial depth chart. The Vikings hope McCarthy is their future franchise signal-caller, but they were already slow-playing his development, and this injury will push back his timetable.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced that rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) is dealing with knee soreness and won't take part in Monday night's training camp practice. The Vikings are likely just being overly cautious here with who they hope will be their QB of the future. The 21-year-old Michigan product made his NFL debut in Saturday's preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders and went 11-for-17 for 188 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. McCarthy got off to a bad start but eventually settled in against backup defenders. Hopefully, his knee injury doesn't cause him to miss too much practice time, but either way, former first-rounder Sam Darnold is fully expected to open the year as Minnesota's starter as they slow-play the development of McCarthy.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is going to get his first taste of professional football on Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Sam Darnold will draw the start under center before McCarthy takes over. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said that the rookie signal-caller will get a significant amount of work during the preseason opener. Second-year quarterback Jaren Hall is expected to play after McCarthy exits the contest. The Vikings appear to be making this a legitimate competition, but McCarthy is looked upon as the quarterback of the future in Minnesota.

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy has taken a back seat to Sam Darnold during the opening days of training camp. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said today that McCarthy will eventually get some consistent first-team reps in camp, but that Sam Darnold had earned the right to get the bulk of them to this point. O'Connell also said he will use that time both to evaluate McCarthy and also see if Darnold can "elevate" a different set of receivers other than Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The 21-year-old first-round pick is getting more comfortable during camp, but the Vikings have stressed that patience will be key in the development of McCarthy, their 2024 first-round pick. Sam Darnold is currently the favorite to open Week 1 as Minnesota's starting quarterback, but with the playmakers at the skill positions for the Vikings, McCarthy will be an attractive streaming quarterback if he gets the opportunity to start this season.

Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy is not focused too much on trying to win the starting job in his first NFL season. "The process is the progress," McCarthy said. The 10th overall pick in April's draft mostly has worked behind presumptive starter Sam Darnold in the first three practices of training camp. "My ultimate goal is to get the most out of every single day. When the time comes [to start], it comes. I'm just training every single day so that when that time does come, I'm going to be ready," McCarthy said. The 21-year-old Michigan product said he can now call plays in the huddle without stumbling through the verbiage. It sounds like McCarthy is getting more comfortable already, but the Vikings have made it clear they will treat his development with patience above all else, and conventional wisdom around the team suggests that Darnold will open as the starter.