As the Chicago Bears are set to decide on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams' playing time for their weekend preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Minnesota Vikings received some bad news about their rookie quarterback.
On Monday night, news first broke that JJ McCarthy would miss some practice time due to knee soreness. In an update on Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that McCarthy had not only suffered a torn meniscus but will also undergo surgery to determine the extent of the injury.
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy has a torn meniscus in his right knee, per HC Kevin O’Connell.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 13, 2024
McCarthy's rookie season is now in question as his recovery timeline will not be known until after the surgery has been completed.
#Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy will undergo surgery this week for a meniscus injury, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 13, 2024
The surgery will determine how long McCarthy will miss. But it now appears Sam Darnold is in line to be Minnesota’s Week 1 starter. pic.twitter.com/roBO7RD4Uh
The Vikings' plan entering the season was for McCarthy to serve as the backup quarterback to veteran Sam Darnold. McCarthy was impressive in his preseason debut on Saturday, lending credence to the idea that he would eventually replace Darnold as the Vikings' starting quarterback before the season concluded.
McCarthy's injury adds to what was already a Vikings' season that seemed to have mixed messaging. The Vikings letting Kirk Cousins depart via free agency while having a bridge quarterback in Darnold and a rookie in McCarthy with questions at how successful he can be at the NFL level gives the impression of a team that may be at the bottom of the NFC North division this season.
For as much as the Bears may have preferred Williams to have between 45 and 55 snaps this preseason, McCarthy's injury is a reminder that there are variables in the preseason that the team can't control. This is important when talking about Williams potentially playing on Saturday against the Bengals. Instead of having Williams play in the game, the Bears may choose to hold him out depending on how the joint practice goes on Thursday. If anything, such a decision would help the Bears avoid the situation that the Vikings are now facing.