Zulgad: J.J. McCarthy's injury is a temporary setback but shouldn't overshadow what looks like a bright future

The Vikings' quarterback could miss substantial time because of a meniscus injury that will require surgery. That doesn't mean the first-round pick won't be starting the 2025 season opener.

Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

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J.J. McCarthy’s performance in the Minnesota Vikings’ preseason opener Saturday provided plenty of reasons for optimism. McCarthy’s first drive in purple might have ended with an interception, but one mistake couldn’t overshadow the rookie’s 188-yard and two touchdown outing.

Did that showing give McCarthy a chance to bump veteran Sam Darnold aside as the Week 1 starter against the New York Giants? Maybe not. But there was still time left in camp, along with two preseason games, for McCarthy to show maybe he wouldn’t need a redshirt year.

That momentum came to a crashing halt Tuesday morning. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell announced the quarterback would undergo surgery to repair a tear in the meniscus in his right knee. He suffered the injury in the Vikings’ 24-23 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders — it’s not known when it happened — and reported that he had some pain on Monday.

It was the latest gut punch to a fan base that has absorbed plenty of them. It’s unknown how much time McCarthy might miss.

He could have either a trim of the meniscus or a full repair. The first would enable him to return this season, the second would require a months-long recovery that could end his season before it starts. The decision on which surgery will be done won’t be made until doctors begin the process and see the extent of the damage to the meniscus.

While McCarthy’s return this season would seem ideal, the more extensive procedure, if it’s required, would benefit him long term. Considering McCarthy is only 21 years old, there would be no incentive to take a short cut that could cause problems down the road.

The positive spin on this: Tuesday’s news is disappointing, but far from devastating. It would have helped for McCarthy to get more snaps in the remainder of camp and preseason games, but once the regular season starts the majority of the reps go to the starting quarterback.

The plan all along has been for Darnold to hold that job.

There is a case to be made that if Darnold struggles, McCarthy could have taken over. But the most important thing is to have McCarthy ready to start the 2025 opener.

There is no reason that won’t remain the goal.

McCarthy will be rehabbing, either short or long term, around his coaches and teammates at the Vikings’ facility and nothing will change when it comes to the learning process away from the field. O’Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown still will have plenty of time with McCarthy to do film work and anything else that can be accomplished off the field.

This franchise has been through far worse when it comes to quarterback injuries — Teddy Bridgewater’s devastating leg injury in August 2016 comes to mind — and, if this was going to happen to McCarthy, far better it come this season than next.

That doesn’t eliminate the buzz-kill nature of this news. McCarthy has made tremendous strides since taking part in the Vikings’ OTAs and minicamps and watching him either in practice, or Saturday’s preseason game, you could see him developing into the quarterback that O’Connell envisioned when the Vikings selected McCarthy with the 10th pick in the April draft.

There was still plenty of work to be done and now that has to be put on hold. Short term that’s a bummer, but long term there remain plenty of reasons to be optimistic that the Vikings got this pick right.