Moments before making his NFL debut, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy faced an unexpected hurdle.
One of the team’s key offensive linemen, left tackle Christian Darrisaw, was ruled out due to injury, just ahead of the NFC North season opener against the Chicago Bears.
Christian Darrisaw Sidelined
Darrisaw, 26, had been dealing with the aftermath of a torn ACL and MCL suffered last October against the Rams.
Although he practiced fully on Saturday and was listed as questionable, he was ultimately declared inactive for Monday night’s game.
Justin Skule is set to fill in on the offensive line in his absence, providing critical support for McCarthy in what will be a challenging debut.
Additional Injury Concerns
The Vikings also lost veteran safety Harrison Smith to an undisclosed illness.
On the Bears’ side, injuries piled up as well, with starting defensive backs Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon out for the season opener, and linebacker T.J. Edwards sidelined with a hamstring issue.
Both teams will have to adapt their lineups to manage these key absences.
McCarthy’s Long-Awaited Debut
At just 22 years old, McCarthy is finally set to start his first regular season game more than a year after being drafted No. 10 overall by Minnesota.
His rookie year was entirely wiped out by a torn meniscus in his right knee, forcing him to watch from the sidelines as Sam Darnold delivered a career-best season for the Vikings.
Vikings Commit to Their Future Quarterback
With Darnold now signed with the Seahawks in free agency, Minnesota has fully committed to McCarthy as their quarterback of the future.
Despite the challenges of missing a key lineman and facing a Bears defense missing top players of their own, all eyes will be on McCarthy as he steps into the spotlight for his debut.