It’s been a rough week on the injury front for the Detroit Lions, with nearly a dozen players sidelined with various ailments. The Lions are not alone in fighting the injury bug around the league and within the NFC North division.
In Minnesota, the Vikings will be without its most prominent rookie to start the season. First-round pick quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Michigan will be idled for at least a few weeks with a knee injury. McCarthy sat out from practice on Monday with knee soreness, and additional testing revealed a torn meniscus.
The Vikings announced that McCarthy “will undergo a procedure for a torn meniscus in his right knee.”
Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announces that J.J. McCarthy will undergo a procedure for a torn meniscus in his right knee. pic.twitter.com/O0JgNBgB5t
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 13, 2024
Recovery times for a torn meniscus vary widely and are also dependent upon what type of procedure is performed. Week 1 is four weeks away, and that’s the bare minimum timeline from various medical resources for nonsurgical return to action. Even a minor surgical procedure could keep McCarthy out well into his rookie campaign, though that’s an unknown timeline at this point.
Veteran Sam Darnold figures to now be the unquestioned starting quarterback to start the regular season.
