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It’s been a difficult offseason for the Minnesota Vikings, to say the least.
Over the course of the last five weeks alone, the NFC North franchise has experienced multiple setbacks, ranging from tragic to foolish to just plain unlucky.
It all began in early July when 24-year-old rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson was killed in a car accident. Then, just days later, their star second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison was arrested for driving under the influence.
The team then lost cornerback Mekhi Blackmon to a torn ACL during the first practice of training camp before losing Shaquill Griffin to an injury the following day.
The hits haven’t stopped there, though, as it was reported on Tuesday, August 13 that rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy had torn the meniscus in his right knee and will undergo surgery.
McCarthy’s injury is just the latest to happen to a Minnesota Vikings QB, as the franchise has seemingly been plagued by the issue for a decade now.
In 2016, Teddy Bridgewater suffered an infamously devastating knee injury that altered the trajectory of his career. The following season in 2017, the franchise turned to former #1 overall pick Sam Bradford who got off to a promising 2-0 start before also suffering a season-ending injury.
Then, last year, in his final season with the team, Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles while playing perhaps the best football of his career.
The Minnesota Vikings, heading into their third season under head coach Kevin O’Connell, will kick off their 2024 season with a road matchup against the New York Giants on Sunday, September 8 at 1 p.m. EST.
While McCarthy wasn’t expected to open the season as the team’s starter — the franchise was planning to play former New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold against the Giants even before McCarthy’s injury — an injury to his meniscus will still delay the development that Vikings fans were hoping to see this year.
It hasn’t been all bad news for the Vikings this offseason, though, as they signed star wide receiver Justin Jefferson to a four-year, $140 million contract extension in June.