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By Noah Camras
Contributing Sports Writer
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On Wednesday, Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He suffered the injury during the team's first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and the full repair surgery will keep him out for the entire 2024 NFL season.
Read more: Vikings QB JJ McCarthy Out for Entire 2024 NFL Season
While the injury was devastating for both McCarthy and the Vikings, it also turned out to be historic. According to Doug Clawson of CBS Sports, McCarthy will be the first quarterback drafted in the first round in the common draft era (sine 1967) to miss his entire rookie season due to injury.
Read More on NFL
McCarthy was selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft by the Vikings. Following Kirk Cousins' departure to Atlanta, the Vikings felt they found their next franchise quarterback in McCarthy.
McCarthy entered camp in a competition with veteran quarterback and former No. 3 overall pick, Sam Darnold. The 27-year-old appeared on track to be the Vikings' starter come Week 1, but McCarthy was going to have every opportunity to take Darnold's spot at some point this season.
Now, his regular season NFL debut will be put on hold for at least a year.
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Vikings' Bad Quarterback Luck Continues
McCarthy's injury continues a trend of bad luck for Vikings quarterbacks over the last decade. In 2016, former first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater suffered a non-contact knee injury in practice that turned out to be a torn ACL. He missed the entire 2016 season and most of the 2017 season.
The Vikings traded for quarterback Sam Bradford following Bridgewater's injury. After appearing in 15 games in Bridgewater's place in 2016, Bradford played just two games in 2017 due to knee issues that came about from multiple ACL surgeries.
The Vikings signed Kirk Cousins ahead of the 2018 season, and he proved to be the answer at quarterback for five-plus seasons. However, last year, he ruptured his Achilles in Week 8, which ultimately ended his Vikings tenure.
With McCarthy now out for the entire 2024 season, Darnold is expected to get a full seasons worth of playing time to try to live up to his potential.
More news: What Does JJ McCarthy Injury Mean for Justin Jefferson, Other Vikings in Fantasy Football?
However, it remains to be seen what his receiving core looks like come the start of the season. Tight end T.J. Hockenson continues to recover from a torn ACL he suffered late last season, while star wideout Jordan Addison was carted off the practice field with an apparent leg injury on Wednesday.
Read more: Vikings' Jordan Addison Carted Off Field With Apparent Leg Injury
Jordan Addison Injury Update
Fortunately, head coach Kevin O'Connell said after practice that he thinks Addison is going to be OK. He's unlikely to practice on Thursday, though.
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