McCarthy Injury Confirms Giants vs. Darnold in Week 1

The New York Giants have long known that they’ll be welcoming the Minnesota Vikings to town for Week 1’s festivities. They haven’t, however, known who will be under center for Minnesota.

On Tuesday, that question was answered in the form of bad news. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy tore his right meniscus, head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters . While the full timeline and severity of the injury is not yet public, the proximity to the preseason means McCarthy’s surgery will take him out of the running for Week 1 .

The starting quarterback job now belongs to Sam Darnold.

Darnold, the third-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has experience in MetLife Stadium after his tenure with the New York Jets. He’ll be returning with a vengeance, hoping to perform well enough to hold onto the job while McCarthy recovers and ultimately earn a starting gig elsewhere.

Darnold is new to Minnesota’s system, having spent time with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers since being dealt from the Jets. This summer, he’s looked comfortable in O’Connell’s scheme; he flashed during the preseason game, too. Armed with the best receiver ( Justin Jefferson ) and offensive line of his career, he’s not an opponent the Giants can afford to overlook.

Jefferson will give New York’s secondary trouble. He gives every secondary trouble. But the Giants’ pass rush could be a deciding factor in the season opener.

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If edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux can combine with defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to collapse pockets and make Darnold’s life miserable, he’s bound to perform like the backup quarterback he’s been in recent years. Darnold has generally struggled in muddied pockets, meaning this game could be won in the trenches.

Defensive coordinators love to face rookie quarterbacks, especially those getting their feet wet in the early season. Giants coordinator Shane Bowen will have to wait until Week 2 against the Washington Commanders to test the limits of a rookie quarterback.