Vikings Find Encouragement in Sam Darnold Amid J.J. McCarthy Setback and Continuous Injuries

The Minnesota Vikings haven't even played their second preseason game yet, but they could use some encouragement at this point.

On Wednesday, it was one piece of bad news after another for the Vikings, with more names being added to their growing injury report.

First, their rookie quarterback and first-round pick, J.J. McCarthy, was ruled out for the season after it was determined he would need a full repair of his meniscus, sidelining him for the entire 2024 season.

Then, in a joint practice with the Cleveland Browns, second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison went down with a leg injury, though it is believed to be not too serious. Finally, it was fellow receiver Thayer Thomas, who spent most of last season on the Vikings' practice squad, that was also injured.

Though it was too early for head coach Kevin O'Connell to make the call, McCarthy was most likely in line to be the starting quarterback for Minnesota this season, at least at some point. In the Vikings' preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, he went 11-of-17 for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, playing 30 total snaps.

Now that starting job looks to be all Sam Darnold's—if it wasn't already. According to SI's Albert Breer, the Vikings feel confident in Darnold's abilities to lead the team this season. Breer, while on The Herd with Colin Cowherd , noted that this confidence dates back to Darnold's last season with the Carolina Panthers and even last year with the San Francisco 49ers.

In 2022, Darnold played in just six games, going 4-2. In three of his last four games, he went 52-for-82 (63.4%) for 816 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception, with a passer rating of 111.6. Last season, as a backup for the 49ers, he finished the season with just one start but made appearances in 10 total games. He ended the year going 28-for-46 (60.9%) for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

It was the Christmas game against the Baltimore Ravens, where Darnold came in for Brock Purdy with the Ravens up big, that caught the Vikings' attention. Breer added that even in garbage time, Darnold looked as if he was playing faster and more decisively in Kyle Shanahan's offense. The Vikings hope that translates into O'Connell's system.

"They're [Vikings] confident they are going to get a better version of Sam Darnold. Maybe this winds up being like the Baker Mayfield or Geno Smith stories," Breer said.

Mayfield and Smith have completely revived their careers over the last couple of seasons, becoming full-time starters and even earning lucrative contract extensions with their respective teams in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks.

Now with his fourth NFL team entering his seventh season, Darnold and the Vikings hope he's the good news they both so desperately need right now.