With the recent news of Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy being lost for the season due to a torn meniscus, that means that veteran quarterback Sam Darnold will be the full-time starter in 2024.
The 27-year-old has 56 career NFL starts and is now on his fourth different NFL team.
Despite not finding a ton of success with teams such as the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers, he now has an opportunity to show off his skills as the starter in the Twin Cities.
Fox Sports’s Colin Cowherd is intrigued with the Darnold angle.
“The Darnold thing is fascinating because (the Vikings) really do have very nice offensive personnel…They’ll win games,” Cowherd recently said on The Herd.
Breaking News: J.J. McCarthy out for the season with torn meniscus in right knee…
“The Darnold thing is fascinating” — @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/eq75TWhjgo
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) August 14, 2024
Darnold has some really solid pieces to work with from an offensive perspective.
All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson, former Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones, and exciting NFL sophomore Jordan Addison (10 touchdown catches as a rookie in 2023) are all in the fold around Darnold.
It will be up to head coach Kevin O’Connell and Darnold to find success from under center.
Perhaps Darnold’s previous experience in San Francisco last season in a similar offensive system to Minnesota’s can help propel him forward.
The former All-Pac-12 performer is still looking to become a superstar and as veteran quarterbacks such as Ryan Tannehill, Baker Mayfield, and Geno Smith have done in recent years, perhaps he can have a rebirth.
As tough as the McCarthy injury is for himself and Vikings fans, Darnold could be set up for a bounce-back season this year.
