Analysis: J.J. McCarthy's injury will have minimal impact this year if Sam Darnold performs well

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, right, hugs quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, right, hugs quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)


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J.J. McCarthy's season-ending knee injury is a major blow for the rookie quarterback and the Minnesota Vikings. Still, it'll have minimal impact this year if Sam Darnold performs well. The Vikings paid Darnold $10 million to replace Kirk Cousins for a season with a plan to allow McCarthy to watch from the sideline and learn. Darnold was slated to be the starting QB in Week 1 and there's no guarantee he would've relinquished the job to McCarthy. If he did, that would've likely meant the team struggled.

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Rob Maaddi

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