Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed Tuesday that McCarthy needs surgery but said the team has no timetable for how long he will be sidelined.
A decision will be made during surgery as to whether McCarthy’s cartilage needs to be trimmed or completely repaired, which will determine how long he will recover.
McCarthy complained of knee pain over the weekend and underwent an MRI Monday night. With the No. 10 overall pick out, veteran Sam Darnold is now poised to become the Vikings’ starting quarterback in Week 1.
The Vikings selected McCarthy this year after parting ways with Kirk Cousins, who joined the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent.
McCarthy has made progress since an uneven performance during spring training and shortened training camp, and remained in Minnesota through the early part of the summer to refine a series of modified footwork and other mechanical changes recommended by the team.
McCarthy maintained a consistent approach throughout training camp and into his preseason debut, when he replaced Darnold after one series against the Las Vegas Raiders. The game started off inauspiciously when McCarthy threw an interception pass to end his first series, but he recovered to throw touchdown passes of 45 and 33 yards in the third quarter, and finished the day with 11 completed passes on 17 attempts for 188 yards.
Other quarterbacks on Minnesota’s roster are Jaren Hall, who replaced McCarthy at quarterback for the Vikings’ last five games against the Raiders, and veteran Nick Mullens.
“Alcohol enthusiast. Twitter ninja. Tv lover. Falls down a lot. Hipster-friendly coffee geek.”