The Green Bay Packers will not face Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy this season after the first-round draft pick underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Wednesday that McCarthy will miss the entire 2024 season.
McCarthy was injured during the Vikings’ 24-23 win over the Raiders on Saturday. The 10th overall pick made several impressive throws in his rookie debut, including a 45-yard touchdown catch to wide receiver Trishton Jackson. McCarthy ultimately threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
JJ McCarthy passes to Trishton Jackson for a 45-yard touchdown!
AND @JJettas2 Love it!
📺: #LVvsMIN ON @NFLNetwork
📱: Streaming #NFLPlus photo:twitter.com/QmEKsnabMz— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
With McCarthy out for the rest of the year, veteran quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to take his place.
Minnesota signed Darnold to a one-year, $10 million contract in the offseason after former starter Kirk Cousins ​​signed a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. The Vikings then used their first-round pick on McCarthy to compete with Darnold for a starting spot.
After winning a national championship at Michigan, the hope was that McCarthy would emerge as the franchise quarterback. Those plans were put on hold until 2025.
Jaren Hall also appeared in Saturday’s preseason game and could serve as a backup to Darnold, a former top-five draft pick who has appeared in 56 games in six seasons.
Darnold has made one career start against the Packers, which came in his rookie season in 2018. As a member of the New York Jets, Darnold threw for 341 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions in a 44–38 overtime loss.
The NFC North is loaded with newborn talent at quarterback, including Jordan Love in Green Bay, Caleb Williams with the Chicago Bears and McCarthy with the Vikings. But the Packers may have been lucky to avoid McCarthy this season.
A division rival, the Packers will face Minnesota twice in 2024, with the first meeting scheduled for Week 4 and the second in Week 17.
