The Minnesota Vikings have placed QB J.J. McCarthy on IR and signed former UFL champion Matt Corral. McCarthy, the team’s first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is sidelined for the season due to a torn meniscus.
[Related: J.J. McCarthy and other NFL injuries that could impact 2024 season]
McCarthy underwent surgery on Wednesday and was expected to contend for the starting quarterback position this season after being selected No. 10 overall in April. With McCarthy out, the Vikings will rely on Sam Darnold, another former first-round pick, to lead the team in the 2024 season.
Remarkably, McCarthy is the first quarterback drafted in the first round during the common draft era (since 1967) to miss an entire rookie season due to injury. This unfortunate record highlights the physical demands and unpredictability of professional football.
In his preseason debut against the Las Vegas Raiders, McCarthy showcased his potential by throwing for 188 yards, completing 11 of 17 passes, with two touchdowns and one interception. However, the injury he sustained during that game has now shifted the focus to how Darnold and Corral will manage the team’s offense moving forward.
