Daily Norseman
The Vikings have had their fair share (if not more) of injuries to start the season. After having a pretty safe season last year, it is probably the odds that they would get more this year. Now that JJ McCarthy is out for at least one week, with some reports saying it could be 2 to 4 weeks, the debates have been very spirited about his capabilities. I really do not know right now. I am hopeful that he will be the long term answer. It remains to be seen though.
This article was before the Bears game.
McGinn: Inside the J.J. McCarthy Mystery
“The whole thing is just a mystery until he plays,” an executive in personnel said last week. “Everything (in Minnesota) is about the quarterback this year.”
“I don’t really know what to say about him,” said an NFC personnel man who eagerly watched the McCarthy snippet. “He threw (seven) passes in the preseason; none of them were particularly impressive. I do think he has movement ability and should be good on the boot action, but he’s a total wild card. I have no idea how he’s going to do in this offense.
“If I’m a Minnesota fan, I’m confident in the players around him, and especially the coach (Kevin O’Connell). But for anyone to say they know what he is or will be, they are just speculating.”
“I’m sure there will be some rocky moments at the start,” offered Polian.
“He has to show he can put enough touch on his underneath throws to give the backs a chance,” said one scout. “And he has to show he can throw that deep crossing route, particularly to (Justin) Jefferson that they rely so much upon.
“If he can do that, then I think he’ll be fine.”
Scary stat!
Before the 2024 NFL Draft, CBS Sports highlighted that J.J. McCarthy was the first first-round quarterback since Christian Ponder in 2011 to be selected without having a single season with either 3,000 passing yards or 500 rushing yards during his college career.
Oh man. Our faith is being put to the test big time right now.
Other Vikings injury updates: Aaron Jones, Christian Darrisaw, more
RB Aaron Jones
Part of the reason the Vikings traded for Jordan Mason was the knowledge that Jones is 30 years old and has dealt with various bumps and bruises throughout his career, even if he’s mostly been durable. Mason has already out-snapped Jones in each of the first two games, and his snap share figures to spike in Week 3 as Minnesota’s clear-cut RB1 for quarterback Carson Wentz. With Ty Chandler on IR, Zavier Scott is now the Vikings’ RB2. They also have Xazavian Valladay on the practice squad.
LT Christian Darrisaw
Darrisaw missed a second consecutive game to start the season as he finishes up his recovery process from last October’s major knee injury. In Week 1, he was listed as questionable, but that was...
