Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy injury adds pressure created by Sam Darnold

The pressure is on.

J.J. McCarthy is center stage for the Minnesota Vikings, and there's no buffer. He's either going to sink or swim.

That pressure comes from a couple of places. It started when McCarthy was the No. 10 overall pick out of Michigan in 2024. It grew when Sam Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 regular season record. And now it's at its peak with Darnold gone and McCarthy trying to make a return from a torn meniscus that canceled his entire rookie season.

Pro Football Focus ranks McCarthy as one of the most important returns of a player who missed all of 2024. And honestly, it has to be the most important, because he's the QB for a Super Bowl contender.

Here's what PFF wrote recently:

No player on this list faces more pressure in 2025 than Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Minnesota selected McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in last year’s draft, but he missed his entire rookie season after suffering a meniscus tear in the preseason opener.

Veteran Sam Darnold stepped in and delivered a career-best campaign, earning an 80.7 PFF grade that ranked 13th among 42 qualifying quarterbacks. With Darnold at the helm, the Vikings finished 14-3 and were one of the NFC’s top teams all year.

Now the spotlight shifts back to McCarthy. The Vikings have built a strong supporting cast around him at the skill positions and along the offensive line. McCarthy posted an elite 90.6 PFF grade in his final season at Michigan, and Minnesota is banking on him making an immediate impact as the team aims to stay atop a competitive NFC North.

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McCarthy is in a strong quarterback division with three other strong teams. The Lions (Jared Goff), Packers (Jordan Love) and Bears (Caleb Williams) all think they can win the NFC North, too.

There's no time for easing into things. McCarthy has to lean into the pressure right away. If he doesn't, Minnesota might be in for a bumpier ride than any Vikings fan would want.

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