Historically, few NFL franchises have been as unlucky as the Minnesota Vikings, and they still have not won a Super Bowl. The way training camp is going prior to the 2024 season, that streak seems very likely to continue.
A team with a lot of upside has been hammered by injuries in training camp, and things have gotten worth. 10th-overall pick and hopeful franchise quarterback JJ McCarthy is out for the year after undergoing meniscus surgery.
The news was broken by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, among others.
Fresh off a perfect 15-0 season at Michigan that resulted in a national championship, McCarthy had a very impressive preseason debut for the Vikings against the Raiders on Saturday He actually suffered the injury during that game, but played through it and did not mention it to the team’s medical staff until Monday.
That means that Sam Darnold, who started ahead of JJ McCarthy in that preseason game, is now the surefire starter in Minnesota. But, this is just another gut punch for the Vikings in training camp.
Vikings:
-Rookie CB dies
-Starting WR gets a DUI
-Starting CB tears ACL first day of practice
-Other starting CB gets hurt second day of practice
-First round rookie QB tears meniscusThis is just the last five weeks…
— Mateo (@MJNDesigner) August 13, 2024
Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL at the beginning of camp, and their other starting corner, Shaq Griffin, is battling a hamstring injury that has kept him out of action. Rookie corner and 2024 4th-round pick Khyree Jackson tragically passed away in a car accident, and second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison got a DUI.
It’s hard to just declare it a lost year, given that the offense still has a ton of pieces and Kevin O’Connell is a really good head coach. But, given the projected strength of the NFC North, Minnesota could very well be picking in the top ten in next April’s 2025 NFL Draft.
The Vikings open up the season on the road against the New York Giants.