McCarthy will miss season after surgery
J.J. McCarthy’s rookie year with the Vikings is already over.
The former Nazareth and Michigan star quarterback will miss the season after having surgery Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, which he injured in his preseason debut last week against the Raiders.
McCarthy had been having a solid training camp and was pushing starter Sam Darnold, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings in March.
While some may have doubted Minnesota’s decision to take McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft, the 21-yearold, who led the Wolverines to a national title last season, checked all the boxes over the last few months.
O’Connell said he was more convinced than ever that the franchise has found its long-term solution behind center.
“As excited as I was to draft him, he’s confirmed everything that I hoped to see ... our fan base and everyone should just be excited about the fact that we’ve got our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building,” O’Connell said.
McCarthy went 11-for-17 for 188 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the 24-23 victory against the Raiders.
Darnold now stands as the clear starter without a challenger. Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall, who combined to start five games last season after Cousins suffered a torn Achilles, both return as backups.
Also in Vikings news, receiver Jordan Addison suffered an ankle injury during the team’s joint practices with the Browns. O’Connell said that Addison was unlikely to participate Thursday but isn’t expected to be sidelined for a long period of time.
NOTES: The 49ers are still trying to work out a long-term contract with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk but reportedly also have agreed to parameters of a trade that would send him to the Steelers as he continues his hold-in at training camp.
◆ Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, dressed in shorts, watched training camp from the sideline after he left practice earlier in the week with a leg injury, but coach
Dan Campbell says Gibbs is going to be fine. ◆ Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford experienced hamstring tightness and did not finish the joint practice against the Cowboys, a team official told reporters.
◆ Browns linebacker Jeremiah OwusuKoramoah received a three-year, $39 million contract extension following a Pro Bowl season.
◆ Ravens tight end Mark Andrews avoided injury after being involved in a serious car accident where two vehicles sustained heavy damage.