QB J.J. McCarthy's injury puts Vikings in all-too-familiar territory

The Vikings' 2024 season is already starting to feel much like 2023.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) will undergo surgery and is expected to miss the start of the regular season.

With his injury, "Sam Darnold is now squarely in line [to] be the Vikings opening-day starting quarterback at the Giants," Schefter wrote on social media.

The NFL insider also shared that a timeline for McCarthy's return will be determined following his procedure.

Last season, the Vikings rotated through several unappealing options following Kirk Cousins' season-ending Achilles injury and finished 7-10. They're on track to start the 2024 season on the same note.

Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens and 2023 rookie Jaren Hall combined to star nine games last year and threw 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Minnesota remained competitive after Cousins' injury, but it saw firsthand how important a starting-caliber quarterback is.

Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Jets, has 56 career starts over six seasons. He's a replacement-level option at best, with a career 59.7 completion percentage, 63 touchdowns and 56 interceptions.

In Minnesota's preseason opener against the Raiders, Darnold started and went 4-of-8 for 59 yards. He led the Vikings on a 12-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a turnover on downs on an incomplete pass at the Raiders 4-yard line.

McCarthy fared better, finishing his first NFL action 11-of-17 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

He appeared prepared to supplant Darnold atop the Vikings quarterback depth chart, with head coach Kevin O'Connell praising the 2023 NCAA champion on Monday's "The Pat McAfee Show."

"I thought J.J. played really well," O'Connell said before praising his quarterback's mentality in overcoming an early interception to lead two touchdown drives.

For his part, McCarthy is taking his setback in stride. He shared an upbeat message to social media, writing that he'd "be back in no time."

While the Vikings shouldn't rush their 2024 first-round pick back from injury, they could use him sooner rather than later. Minnesota's schedule immediately following its Week 1 game at the Giants is brutal, with games against the 49ers, Texans, Packers, Jets and Lions from Weeks 2-7.

We've seen enough of Darnold through the years to know that while he might be good for a start or two, he shouldn't be handed the keys to a franchise.

The longer McCarthy is sidelined, the more the upcoming season will feel like the last.