An NFL insider provides insights on the schedule for J.J. McCarthy's meniscus surgery and the anticipated recovery period.

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy is scheduled to undergo surgery to address a meniscus issue in his knee, leaving his future status somewhat uncertain. The outcome will largely depend on the surgeon's assessment once they have a detailed view of the condition. Earlier reports indicated that McCarthy would require surgical intervention. Nevertheless, the Vikings appear well-prepared to manage the situation, whether McCarthy is sidelined for several weeks or the entire season, as noted by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. This preparedness is attributed to the offseason signing of quarterback Sam Darnold, which seems to have been a strategic move to allow McCarthy to develop at a comfortable pace. With McCarthy facing a recovery period, the acquisition of Darnold positions the Vikings more favorably than if McCarthy had been the expected starter.

“However, the Minnesota Vikings took a quarterback in the first round not really for this year, but for the next 15 years,” Rapoport said on NFL Network on Tuesday. “This is someone who I know they believe in. This is someone that they want to see on the field at some point soon. But as you mentioned, it seemed to be tracking that Sam Darnold was going to be the starter anyway for the Vikings. So if their option is to go forward and make sure that McCarthy is 100 percent for next year, it’s not great but it may not be the worst-case scenario, either.”

As rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings prepares for surgery to address a meniscus issue in his knee, his future availability remains uncertain. This uncertainty hinges on the surgeon's assessment of the condition once they have a direct view of the problem. McCarthy's prospects will vary depending on whether the surgeon opts for a less invasive meniscus procedure, which involves trimming a small section to alleviate knee discomfort, or a comprehensive repair. The former option could allow McCarthy to return in the early weeks of the season, while a complete meniscus repair would likely sideline him for the entirety of the 2024 season.

“The options that the doctor will have is, you can do the meniscus trim which is essentially cutting off a piece of the meniscus and just sewing it up and kind of moving on from there,” Rapoport said. “It is something that is not perfect and sometimes, as you alluded to, can lead to long-term issues. But it generally is weeks, four to six weeks would be a typically timeline for a meniscus trim. For the meniscus repair, it’s generally months. Sometimes can be as much as three to four or even five months. But long term, this is considered the more stable, better option. The difference, obviously, is that if J.J. McCarthy has the meniscus repair, then he is not expected to play this season.”