The injury news went from bad to worse for Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy on Wednesday.
The team announced that McCarthy, who was selected 10th overall in this year’s NFL Draft after winning a national championship at Michigan, will miss the season after undergoing surgery on his meniscus.
Previous reports had indicated that he would undergo surgery, but the severity of the injury that could end his season has not been announced.
Sam Darnold is now the starting quarterback for the Vikings.
He spent last season as Brock Purdy’s backup in San Francisco after spending two years in Carolina and his first three NFL seasons with the New York Jets.
Darnold’s teams have had a combined 21-35 record in games he’s started, but there was some optimism for him heading into this season as he’s now coached by Kevin O’Connell, a highly respected offensive mind.
O’Connell enters his third season as Vikings head coach after serving as offensive coordinator under Sean McVay with the Rams for two years that included the 2021-22 Super Bowl championship.
Quarterbacks Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall, who started five games for the Vikings last season, remain on the roster.
The Vikings are over or under 7.5 to win with the over +134 and under -168, according to the latest odds on FanDuel.
“Infuriatingly humble internet trailblazer. Twitter buff. Beer nerd. Bacon scholar. Coffee practitioner.”
