Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is playing the best football of his NFL career, throwing for 1,610 yards, 14 touchdowns, and five interceptions on a career-high 67.2% completion percentage. Perhaps most impressive, he has led the Vikings to a 5-2 start.
But entering this season, there was no guarantee that Darnold would be the season-long starter since the team drafted former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, McCarthy suffered a serious injury during the preseason, paving the way for Darnold to start the entirety of the 2024 season.
Let’s examine McCarthy’s injury, the latest on his recovery, his timeline to return, and what to expect from him in the future.
Will J.J. McCarthy Return From Injury This Season?
McCarthy suffered his injury during his preseason debut against the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 10 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Darnold started the game and played one series, giving way to McCarthy to handle the rest of the first quarter and second and third quarters.
McCarthy threw an interception on his third attempt, but he ultimately completed 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and the one pick.
.@jjmccarthy09's throw.
Trishton's catch.@JJettas2's reaction.
Everything about this video is gold.
Absolute gold.
📺: @FOX9 | @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/qVMMx4e5BY
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 10, 2024
Furthermore, McCarthy demonstrated poise and athleticism by moving around in the pocket and scrambling twice for 18 yards, helping him avoid taking any sacks.
Unfortunately, McCarthy’s season-ending injury overshadowed his on-field production. It’s still unclear when exactly he injured his knee. Two days after the game, McCarthy missed the Vikings’ night practice. A day later, the team announced that he would undergo a procedure to determine why he was experiencing discomfort in his right knee.
The exploratory surgery became a season-ending meniscus repair, which landed McCarthy on IR.
When Will McCarthy Return From Injury?
McCarthy’s recovery timeline is expected to be six to eight months, which is why he was placed on season-ending IR. That means the soonest that he will return to action is the start of the 2025 campaign.
The hope is that McCarthy will be ready for offseason workouts, which will likely begin April 21. That’s the date clubs with returning head coaches are allowed to begin their offseason program.
McCarthy traveled with the team for the first time in Week 8 when the Vikings faced the Los Angeles Rams. While he’s primarily focused on rehabbing his knee, Minnesota is also trying to use this time to help him develop.
“He went out to dinner in L.A. with the quarterbacks Wednesday night and was on the headset on the sideline Thursday night,” TheMMQB’s Albert Breer wrote. “He’ll be with the team going forward, but most of his focus is still on rehab. He’s building strength back now and isn’t yet at the point where it’s 50-50 rehab-to-football work, but he’s getting there.”
The Vikings have “a comprehensive player development plan in place” for the rookie QB, and head coach Kevin O’Connell “is making it a priority to get at least an hour of one-on-one time with his QB of the future every week throughout the season,” reported The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
Why Did the Vikings Draft McCarthy?
After Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings were looking for their quarterback of the future.
After six seasons with Cousins starting under center, Minnesota entered the offseason with the No. 11 overall pick, an intense desire to land one of the top quarterbacks in the draft, and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah ready to move around to make a splash.
The first half of Round 1 fell favorably for the Vikings, who were rumored to be interested in both North Carolina’s Drake Maye and McCarthy, who had just led Michigan to a national title. Maye was selected No. 3 overall by the New England Patriots, but McCarthy remained on the board at No. 10 overall.
Minnesota then traded up one spot in a trade with the New York Jets to ensure they would land McCarthy. The Jets acquired picks No. 11, No. 129, and No. 157, while the Vikings landed the No. 10 and No. 203 picks.
Minnesota also signed Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal. His deal featured a $6.25 million signing bonus and $8.75 million guaranteed at signing, with a cap hit of just $5 million.
Darnold has since become one of the biggest bargains in the NFL. According to Spotrac, he has the 32nd-highest cap hit among NFL quarterbacks this season. He has a lower cap hit ($5 million) than backups like Washington Commanders QB Marcus Mariota ($6 million) and Dallas Cowboys QB Trey Lance ($5.3 million).
Will McCarthy Be the Starter Over Sam Darnold When He Returns?
The Vikings have made it clear that McCarthy is their quarterback of the future. At the same time, the organization has been steadfast in its support of Darnold from the first day he stepped into the facility.
Darnold impressed coaches and teammates during the offseason program. Even at the time of McCarthy’s impressive preseason debut, the belief was that Darnold would begin the season as Minnesota’s starter, with McCarthy potentially taking over at some point midseason.
The success Darnold and the Vikings have experienced throughout the first half of the 2024 season has led to some speculation that Minnesota might find a way to retain him beyond 2024.
Darnold will be a free agent this offseason, and given his strong play, he’ll likely want a significant payday. With McCarthy tabbed as the QB of the future and how much the Vikings gave up to acquire the No. 10 overall pick, it’s unlikely Minnesota will pay what it would take to retain Darnold.
As much as the team has embraced Darnold and vice versa, it’s unlikely he’ll view Minnesota as his best chance to remain a starting quarterback beyond 2024 or get the lucrative contract he desires, so don’t be surprised if he signs elsewhere this offseason.
How Old Is McCarthy?
McCarthy is by far the youngest quarterback taken in the first round this past year. He’s currently 21 years old and won’t turn 22 until after the 2024 regular season ends (Jan. 20, 2025).
Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, will turn 23 next month. Jayden Daniels, taken No. 2 overall, will turn 24 in December, and Maye turned 22 this past August.
Other quarterbacks taken before and right after McCarthy are also older. Michael Penix Jr. (selected No. 8 overall by Atlanta) turned 24 this past May, and Bo Nix (No. 12 selection by Denver) is 24 and will turn 25 shortly after McCarthy’s 22nd birthday.
McCarthy’s youth shouldn’t be confused for inexperience, though. As a true freshman in 2021, he received playing time as a backup QB. The next season, he led Michigan to an undefeated record and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Then, in 2023, McCarthy again led Michigan to an undefeated mark at 15-0 — this time resulting in a national title.
All told, McCarthy finished his career at Michigan with a 27-1 record, making him the winningest quarterback in FBS history with a .964 mark.