Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) said on the Up & Adams Show that the team hasn't told him that he's the starting QB going into the 2025 season this fall, and he's "happy they didn't." The Vikings reportedly told free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers that they aren't considering signing him, which essentially sent the message that the team is moving forward with McCarthy, a first-rounder last year, as their starting QB, even though he missed all of his rookie season with a torn meniscus suffered in the preseason. The Vikings are still expected to add a veteran signal-caller after losing both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones in free agency, but it won't be someone that pushes the 22-year-old McCarthy for the starting gig. Something could change once the Vikings begin offseason workouts, but for now, all signs point to McCarthy starting in Week 1 this fall.
Mar 25, 2025 1:04 PM EST
The Minnesota Vikings have rejected multiple trade calls on quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) and are telling other teams that they are moving forward with him as their quarterback, sources tell NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The Vikings plan to add a veteran as insurance for McCarthy, but Pelissero reports that they aren't currently pursuing free-agent QB Aaron Rodgers. Barring something unforeseen, McCarthy is Minnesota's QB1 this offseason. The 22-year-old first-round pick last year out of Michigan tore the meniscus in his knee after an impressive preseason performance and missed his entire rookie season. Despite that and Sam Darnold having a career year in 2024, the Vikes let Darnold walk in free agency, doubling down on McCarthy. They're showing even more faith in him by passing on Rodgers, but that could change if McCarthy struggles during offseason workouts.
Mar 19, 2025 1:02 PM EST
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that with quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones now out of town, it's considered likely that J.J. McCarthy (knee) will be the Minnesota Vikings' starting QB in 2025. The Vikings had plenty of interest in retaining one of Darnold or Jones, but they were outbid by the Seahawks and Colts, respectively. Minnesota will probably add a veteran QB as insurance, but all signs point to McCarthy leading the offense from Week 1 after he missed all of 2024 due to a torn meniscus that he suffered in the preseason. The 22-year-old Michigan product was the 10th overall pick in last year's draft. Although he has an excellent one-two punch to work with at receiver in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and a QB guru in head coach Kevin O'Connell, fantasy managers should expect growing pains from McCarthy. Fantasy managers in single-QB, 12-team leagues can ignore McCarthy in 2025.
Mar 11, 2025 9:04 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) is expected to be cleared to participate in his team's spring activities after tearing his meniscus last summer. McCarthy missed his entire rookie year after having surgery to repair the meniscus injury but his availability early in the team's offseason is promising news. With McCarthy trending up, the Vikings are expected to officially move on from 2024 starter Sam Darnold, who is rumored to be high on the Seattle Seahawks' list after they traded Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday night. McCarthy is likely to open the 2025 season as the Vikings' starter, although the team would still like to add a veteran to the quarterback room, according to Tom Pelissero.
Mar 8, 2025 10:18 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) has his sights set on being ready for the start of the team's offseason program in April. The head coach said that McCarthy's rehab from season-ending knee surgery in 2024 continues to go well. The 22-year-old first-rounder (10th overall) tore the meniscus in his right knee in the preseason and had to miss all of his first year in the NFL. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold had a career year for the Vikings. Darnold will be an unrestricted free agent in March, but it will be telling whether the Vikings let him walk, place the franchise tag on him or sign him to a multi-year extension. Minnesota still believes in McCarthy as their QB of the future, but depending on how they deal with the Darnold situation, he could be in for another "redshirt" year in 2025.
Feb 25, 2025 10:30 PM EST
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee), who missed all of his rookie year in the NFL after having knee surgery for a torn right meniscus, is expected to be ready for organized team activities this spring. He should be able to return to football activities in the next couple of weeks. However, the Vikings are still considering all of their options with impending free-agent QB Sam Darnold, who had a career year in Minnesota on a one-year deal in 2024. If Minnesota doesn't re-sign Darnold by March 4, they could place a franchise tag on him, which could allow McCarthy to develop for one more year behind Darnold. The Vikings also still have former Giants QB Daniel Jones, so if Darnold leaves in free agency, Jones would be an insurance policy in case the team doesn't feel McCarthy is ready to start early in the 2025 season.
Feb 10, 2025 12:10 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) missed his entire rookie campaign after suffering a preseason ACL tear ahead of the 2024 campaign. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was expected to be brought along slowly, but there was a chance he would see playing time in Year 1. With McCarthy sidelined, veteran Sam Darnold started 17 games and threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Darnold is set to become a free agent this offseason, but the team could opt to bring him back. During an appearance on the "Rich Eisen Show," McCarthy said, "All I can ask for is a fair opportunity. That's the one that I feel like everybody's given and it's fundamental. When money gets involved, things get complicated, and reps get skewed and there's different things that come into the whole 'political' world that everyone talks about." It's unclear if the 22-year-old is feeling uneasy about his future with Minnesota following Darnold's breakout season, but it would be a surprise if the Vikings pulled the plug on their latest No. 10 overall pick so early.
Feb 5, 2025 3:55 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) has resumed on-field work, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. The 2024 first-round pick out of Michigan suffered a preseason ACL tear that cost him his entire rookie campaign, forcing veteran Sam Darnold into the starting role. However, it was unclear how much McCarthy was slated to play in Year 1. Darnold threw 35 touchdowns and led Minnesota to 14 wins in 2024, but his late-season collapse in Week 18 and the NFC Wild Card Round could impact his standing with the organization. In all likelihood, McCarthy will start at some point in 2025, and he's an intriguing fantasy football option due to his elite supporting cast consisting of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson.
Jan 16, 2025 2:30 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) had a biologic injection to deal with intermittent swelling in his right knee, according to a source, not a second surgery, as was reported on Wednesday. There has been no change in McCarthy's recovery timeline. "He's really knocked it out of the park every step of the way, and as his rehab has picked up, we noticed a little swelling in there. He's been doing everything we asked of him, but just wanted to make sure that there was no cause for concern, and all reports were very positive," head coach Kevin O'Connell said. The 21-year-old first-rounder had surgery for a torn meniscus on Aug. 14, assuring he won't make his NFL debut until 2025. McCarthy should be rostered in all dynasty/keeper formats with the Vikings hoping he can be their QB of the future. Current starter Sam Darnold has faded a bit after a hot start in 2024.
Nov 14, 2024 6:53 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) underwent a second knee surgery this week after an uptick in his rehab activity led to swelling, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. The 21-year-old suffered a season-ending knee injury before his first regular season began, and although this news is not what fantasy managers or Vikings fans want to hear, the second procedure is not expected to change his timeline to return to action. The first-round pick out of Michigan should still be ready for his sophomore campaign, and he is still viewed as the quarterback of the future despite Sam Darnold having a good year until the last few weeks. With weapons like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson to work with in Kevin O'Connell's offense, McCarthy has an intriguing upside, and this could be a good buy window for him in dynasty formats.
Nov 13, 2024 2:23 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) was officially placed on the season-ending injured reserve on Friday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the Vikings signed quarterback Matt Corral, who will compete for the No. 3 job. McCarthy missed practice earlier this week as he was dealing with knee soreness but eventually underwent an MRI, which showed a tear in his meniscus. The Michigan product underwent knee surgery on Wednesday and will now focus on recovering for the 2025 season. This is a tough blow for the former national champion, who looked quite sharp in the pro debut on Saturday as he went 11-for-17 with 188 passing yards and two scores. Fantasy managers should expect Sam Darnold to serve as the starting quarterback in Minnesota this season, with Nick Mullens slotted as the No. 2.
Aug 16, 2024 4:43 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) will miss his entire rookie season after having successful surgery on Wednesday morning on the meniscus in his knee. The Vikings announced on Tuesday that the 21-year-old had a meniscus tear in his right knee, and apparently he needed a full repair, which will cost him all of 2024. The 12th overall pick in this year's NFL draft was fully expected to start his rookie year as the backup to Sam Darnold while the team slow-played his development, but there was still a good chance he would have seen the field this year, especially if Darnold struggled in the starting role. Now, McCarthy will rest and rehab and learn from the sidelines. He can obviously be avoided in all single-year fantasy leagues. Nick Mullens will open the regular season as Darnold's backup.
Aug 14, 2024 1:54 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) missed training camp practice on Monday with knee soreness, and tests revealed a meniscus issue that will require surgery. As with most meniscus surgeries, there will be a determination made during the procedure to either trip or repair. A trim would mean out for only a few weeks, but a full repair would mean many months on the sidelines. Regardless of which outcome it is for the 21-year-old 12th overall pick in this year's draft, he will not be opening his rookie campaign as Minnesota's starting QB. Instead, that designation will fall to former first-rounder Sam Darnold, who opened training camp listed as the QB1 on the unofficial depth chart. The Vikings hope McCarthy is their future franchise signal-caller, but they were already slow-playing his development, and this injury will push back his timetable.
Aug 13, 2024 1:02 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced that rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) is dealing with knee soreness and won't take part in Monday night's training camp practice. The Vikings are likely just being overly cautious here with who they hope will be their QB of the future. The 21-year-old Michigan product made his NFL debut in Saturday's preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders and went 11-for-17 for 188 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. McCarthy got off to a bad start but eventually settled in against backup defenders. Hopefully, his knee injury doesn't cause him to miss too much practice time, but either way, former first-rounder Sam Darnold is fully expected to open the year as Minnesota's starter as they slow-play the development of McCarthy.
Aug 12, 2024 7:52 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is going to get his first taste of professional football on Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Sam Darnold will draw the start under center before McCarthy takes over. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said that the rookie signal-caller will get a significant amount of work during the preseason opener. Second-year quarterback Jaren Hall is expected to play after McCarthy exits the contest. The Vikings appear to be making this a legitimate competition, but McCarthy is looked upon as the quarterback of the future in Minnesota.
Aug 8, 2024 6:18 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy has taken a back seat to Sam Darnold during the opening days of training camp. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said today that McCarthy will eventually get some consistent first-team reps in camp, but that Sam Darnold had earned the right to get the bulk of them to this point. O'Connell also said he will use that time both to evaluate McCarthy and also see if Darnold can "elevate" a different set of receivers other than Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The 21-year-old first-round pick is getting more comfortable during camp, but the Vikings have stressed that patience will be key in the development of McCarthy, their 2024 first-round pick. Sam Darnold is currently the favorite to open Week 1 as Minnesota's starting quarterback, but with the playmakers at the skill positions for the Vikings, McCarthy will be an attractive streaming quarterback if he gets the opportunity to start this season.
Jul 30, 2024 10:03 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy is not focused too much on trying to win the starting job in his first NFL season. "The process is the progress," McCarthy said. The 10th overall pick in April's draft mostly has worked behind presumptive starter Sam Darnold in the first three practices of training camp. "My ultimate goal is to get the most out of every single day. When the time comes [to start], it comes. I'm just training every single day so that when that time does come, I'm going to be ready," McCarthy said. The 21-year-old Michigan product said he can now call plays in the huddle without stumbling through the verbiage. It sounds like McCarthy is getting more comfortable already, but the Vikings have made it clear they will treat his development with patience above all else, and conventional wisdom around the team suggests that Darnold will open as the starter.
Jul 28, 2024 1:28 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy signed a four-year, fully-guaranteed rookie contract on Friday that is worth $21.85 million and also includes a $12.71 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option, according to sources. McCarthy won a national championship at Michigan in his final season in college and is now hoping to be the Vikings' next franchise signal-caller, although it won't come right away. Former first-rounder Sam Darnold is fully expected to open the year as the starter under center in Minnesota, with McCarthy learning on the sidelines. Most evaluators don't see a ton of upside in McCarthy at the next level, but it doesn't mean he won't be making some starts later on in the 2024 campaign. McCarthy can be avoided in single-year fantasy leagues.
Jul 19, 2024 3:04 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was recently praised by fellow teammate Blake Cashman. Cashman, a linebacker, recently joined Minnesota this offseason and has been around several young quarterbacks. He began his career in the Big Apple with Zach Wilson and played with former second-overall pick C.J. Stroud last season. The 28-year-old defender said on the Jim Rome Show that McCarthy "Is 21 years old, but a great young man. He's a leader and he's eager to learn." This is great to see McCarthy's leadership translate quite well and quickly to the NFL as he led the Michigan Wolverines to two consecutive playoff appearances, including a national championship this past season. Cashman further expressed how well the young quarterback has thrown the ball in minicamps. Even though the 21-year-old is reportedly not starting in Week 1, according to Alec Lewis of the Athletic, it is great to see his veteran teammates express their excitement and support for him. McCarthy was a popular first-round selection in rookie drafts this past spring and remains a coveted asset in dynasty leagues.
Jul 3, 2024 6:55 PM EST
The Athletic's Alec Lewis writes that Minnesota Vikings first-round rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy definitely won't be starting in Week 1 of the 2024 regular season, and he probably won't start in the first quarter of the season. There's even a scenario in which he shouldn't be expected to start at all this year, depending on how Sam Darnold fares. It's not a referendum on McCarthy's talent or his minicamp performance, but rather the team's long-term developmental plan for him. If Darnold, a former first-rounder himself, is dominating and winning in his first year in Minnesota, it will make it easy for the coaching staff to keep McCarthy on the sidelines while he learns. But if Darnold is struggling and the team isn't competitive, it will be hard for head coach Kevin O'Connell to quiet the noise for McCarthy. The bottom line is that McCarthy should be avoided in redraft fantasy leagues.
Jun 28, 2024 1:26 PM EST
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