On Tuesday morning, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will undergo surgery for a torn meniscus. Many had hoped this would be the last item on the long list of bad news this off-season.
Then, Wednesday afternoon happened…
Jordan Addison and Thayer Thomas suffered injuries in Minnesota’s joint practices with the Cleveland Browns. O’Connell also confirmed that McCarthy would be doing a full repair on his torn meniscus, which means he will become the first quarterback taken in the first round during the modern era to miss his entire rookie season.
These are only a few of the unfortunate events that have plagued the Vikings this offseason. Let’s go through them quickly before we try to make sense of it all and find a path forward.
Mekhi Blackmon, Shaq Griffin, NaJee Thompson, and Robert Tonyan suffered injuries in the first weeks of training camp. Jordan Addison was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Earlier in the offseason, they lost former franchise cornerstones Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter in free agency. Star tight end T.J. Hockenson is expected to miss the first half of the season as he rehabs a torn ACL.
And, of course, 2024 draft pick Khyree Jackson passed away in a car accident during the offseason. None of what I just mentioned comes anywhere close to Jackson’s tragic passing. Life is far bigger than football. We wish nothing but the best to everyone who supported Khyree during his journey to the NFL, and may he rest in peace.
Many fans feel like the world is ending right now. Not all is bad, though. As much as we like to focus on the negatives, there have been many positives for fans to look forward to.
Superstar receiver Justin Jefferson signed a four-year extension that keeps him under contract for at least the next five years. Star left tackle Christian Darrisaw signed a four-year extension that keeps him under contract for at least the next six seasons. The Vikings also drafted potential franchise cornerstones in McCarthy and Dallas Turner.
So, how do the Vikings move forward with all this in mind?
Cousins left, and McCarthy is done for the season. It’s time for Sam Darnold to finally show the world why he was the third-overall pick in 2018. Darnold struggled early in his career on a New York Jets team where Robbie Anderson was his No. 1 option on offense. He’s now playing with arguably the best receiver in the league. Darnold also has one of the best No. 2 receivers in the NFL in Addison, a top-10 running back in Aaron Jones, and he will see the return of a top-10 tight end in T.J. Hockenson halfway through the season. He has some of the best weapons a quarterback could ask for and an above-average offensive line. His time has to be now.
On defense, the cornerback room has been decimated by injuries, and starters Danielle Hunter, D.J. Wonnum, and Jordan Hicks left in free agency. Still, the Vikings boast one of the best defensive coordinators in the league and several high-level players in Josh Metellus, Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner, Ivan Pace Jr., and Byron Murphy Jr. The Vikings defense has a plethora of talented players that many teams around the league would love to call their own.
They also drafted or signed some rookies who could make an immediate impact. Gabriel Murphy Jr., Levi Drake Rodriguez, Dwight McGlothern, and Bo Richter all showed out during the first preseason game and are giving fans a reason to believe they can be valuable to the defense going forward.
That includes the cornerback room, which seems to be in the most dire situation. Future Hall of Fame corner Stephon Gilmore visited the Vikings on Monday. Although he is not the player he once was, Gilmore would be a solid addition to the defense, and his veteran presence would put the younger guys at ease. He left the visit without signing a contract. Still, when a fan asked how it went, defensive coordinator Brian Flores couldn’t help but smile. A telling grin? Maybe so. We’ll have to wait and find out.
So, in an offseason with the lowest of lows and some really solid highs, are the Vikings capable of putting up a winning season that satisfies the fans, given the circumstances? Nobody on earth has the answer to that, but I truly believe that the organization is filled with people willing to put their hearts on the line to bring a Super Bowl to a group of people starving for one.
