Ex-Michigan QB to miss NFL rookie season after knee surgery

J.J. McCarthy’s regular season NFL debut won’t be coming this season.

The Minnesota Vikings’ rookie first-round pick underwent surgery on his torn right meniscus on Wednesday and will miss the 2024 campaign, head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters.

“It was a successful procedure, but it did reveal that a repair was necessary which will end J.J.’s 2024 season,” O’Connell said.

The former Michigan quarterback suffered the injury during his preseason debut Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders, when he played 30 snaps after relieving starter Sam Darnold. McCarthy finished 11 of 17 passing for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception before reporting knee soreness to Minnesota’s staff on Monday.

O’Connell said Tuesday there was a chance his season wouldn’t be in jeopardy if the doctors only had to trim the meniscus, but a full repair was required.

“Now it’s about the unique aspect of continuing a very critical development process for him, where maybe the physical reps aren’t going to be there in the short term, but this is going to be a small bump in the road,” O’Connell said. “Other quarterbacks in our league have gone through similar things early on in their journey and came back stronger and better than ever, and that is not only my expectation — I know that is going to happen for J.J. We will have a great plan for him not only in the quarterback room with those other guys, but a process so him and I can continue to build our rapport and make sure there’s a day-today football process, but early on, most importantly, it’s going to be about that rehab and the physical aspect of working his way back. I expect him to make a full recovery.”

McCarthy, who went 27-1 as a starter for the Wolverines before being selected 10th overall in April, had been backing up Darnold in training camp but could have challenged for the starting job at some point in 2024. Now, his NFL debut will have to wait until 2025.