The Minnesota Vikings have been on a roller coaster since the 2024 preseason. J.J. McCarthy, the team’s first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, tore his Achilles in the preseason opener, thrusting Sam Darnold into the starting role.
Darnold led the team to a 14-3 record before a rough Wild Card Round exit, but he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. The only quarterbacks on Minnesota’s roster are McCarthy and Brett Rypien, and the team recently got good news about the presumed starter.
Kevin O’Connell Gives Injury Update on Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings shocked the football world by making McCarthy the 10th pick in last year’s draft. He threw two touchdowns in the team’s preseason opener but reported knee soreness the following week. McCarthy had torn his meniscus, and the team opted for season-ending surgery.
Darnold went on to have the best season of his career, throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He played well enough through 17 weeks to justify talks of an extension with Minnesota, but fell flat in the regular season finale against the Detroit Lions.
Minnesota had a chance to win the NFC North and secure the conference’s top seed, but Darnold threw for just 166 yards and no touchdowns. The next week, he posted 245 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, but the Vikings lost 27-9.
Extension talks quickly fizzled out, and Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with Seattle at the start of free agency. Minnesota brought in Daniel Jones after his late-November release from the New York Giants, but he opted for a one-year, $14 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts.
McCarthy’s knee came back into focus as he was the only quarterback on the roster until Minnesota signed Brett Rypien. The starting job is McCarthy’s to lose, and head coach Kevin O’Connell recently gave the update Vikings fans were hoping for.
The Athletic’s Vikings reporter Alec Lewis tweeted, “Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell on J.J. McCarthy: ‘Full. No limitations.'”
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell on J.J. McCarthy: "Full. No limitations."
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis)
This is huge news for McCarthy as the team’s offseason program begins. He came in late after last year’s draft, then lost his entire rookie season. Working with the starting offense at 100% will be big for the quarterback heading into 2025.
Every starting skill position player returns for Minnesota after the team re-signed Aaron Jones to a two-year, $20 million contract. The offensive line was the weak point in 2024 and will need improvement for the young quarterback. They added tackle Justin Skule, but could use more after allowing the sixth-most sacks last season with 49.
PFSN’s latest mock draft has the Vikings taking Georgia safety Malakai Starks at No. 24, but the team has been linked to different trade-back scenarios.
Jacob Infante noted how the team doesn’t have its own second-, third-, or fourth-round picks after trading up for Dallas Turner. A defensive focus in the first round could be the right move, but any quality offensive line additions would help McCarthy as he gets back on the field.
