Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery from a knee injury that cost him his entire rookie season. A second procedure in November, which was a biologic injection to address swelling, did not pose any concerns and instead allowed McCarthy to clean up any remaining issues.
McCarthy’s recovery has been successful, with him able to do “just about everything now” according to Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer. The 22-year-old quarterback will have a full offseason, giving the Vikings flexibility in their decision on whether or not to bring back free agent starter Sam Darnold.
McCarthy spoke about his experience during an appearance on Rich Eisen’s show, saying that the last year has been “really hard” and that he had to deal with being away from playing. However, he used the time off to focus on rehab and development, staying engaged in the team’s operations and even participating in practice.
The Vikings are comfortable with McCarthy as a starting quarterback option for 2025, according to Breer. While Darnold’s market situation will impact their decision-making, they would be flexible in handling his situation. McCarthy is taking steps to position himself for success, having lost over 20 pounds while injured and now focusing on being ready to start in the spring.
With the Vikings’ offseason program set to begin, McCarthy is looking forward to a full season of competition. The quarterback situation is an important one, as Minnesota looks to decide whether to stick with Darnold or give McCarthy a chance to prove himself.
Source: https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/jj-mccarthy-confirms-hes-ahead-of-schedule-in-recovery-from-knee-injury-01jk99yj3rag