Things were looking up for former Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy after his trade to the New York Giants earlier this season, but his career-long injury issues reared their ugly head once again during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9.
During the third quarter of that contest, McCarthy took a hard shot to his mid-section from Eagles linebacker Zach Baun. As a result, McCarthy left the field of play. Shortly after, television cameras caught the 23-year-old QB collapsing to his knees on the sideline while clutching at an area of his torso that could indicate a potential rib injury, or some other issue in that region.
McCarthy headed to the blue medical tent, as Jameis Winston stepped in to replace him. McCarthy later jogged off the field and back to the locker room for further evaluation. It is unclear if McCarthy will return to action or how serious his injury happens to be. He is officially questionable for the remainder of the game.
UPDATE: McCarthy ultimately returned to the field and to action, replacing Winston after the latter completed 6-of-8 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Minnesota flipped McCarthy for a fifth-round pick in late September. He stepped in for Winston during the fourth quarter of Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints and played well.
McCarthy then won his first start in New York on the strength of 20-for-28 passing, 252 yards and no turnovers. The Giants bested the Houston Texans in that game and then entered their bye week.
McCarthy was 9-of-13 for 101 yards against Philly on the day before leaving the game with his injury.
Injuries Plagued JJ McCarthy’s Short Time With Vikings
Health concerns unfortunately defined McCarthy’s run in Minnesota, which lasted just over two seasons before the team cut bait.
The Vikings drafted McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft and perhaps intended to start him from Week 1 of that season, despite having paid Sam Darnold $10 million on a one-year deal to come over from the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.
McCarthy suffered a knee injury during a preseason game in August that required surgery to repair and cost him his entire rookie campaign.
The team cleared the decks at the QB position for him the next offseason, allowing Darnold to leave for the Seattle Seahawks and Daniel Jones to depart for a starting job with the Indianapolis Colts. McCarthy started the first two games of the season before suffering a high-ankle sprain that cost him the next six weeks (five contests).
Kyler Murray Has Struggled With Health Issues, Consistency as JJ McCarthy’s Successor
McCarthy battled multiple other health concerns that year, ultimately starting just 10 games for Minnesota before new general manager Nolan Teasley sent him to New York following the team’s acquisition of Kyler Murray and Murray’s subsequent promotion to QB1.
Murray, however, suffered a concussion in Week 1 and missed the following game. He is now sitting with hamstring tightness, as Carson Wentz will start for the Vikings against the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football” one day before the league’s trade deadline.
Minnesota is a candidate to potentially trade for a quarterback, as Max Brosmer is the QB3 on the roster as of Week 9.
Vikings Ex-QB JJ McCarthy Leaves Giants Game With Nasty-Looking Injury