Either Sam Darnold Balls Out — or Vikings Tank
The Minnesota Vikings weren’t expected to be a legitimate threat for the playoffs this year. That may have been casting too much doubt on the collection. Now without their rookie signal caller, it’s Sam Darnold or bust.
Either Sam Darnold Balls Out — or Vikings Tank
There was no real reason to believe that Sam Darnold wouldn’t be the Minnesota Vikings Week 1 starter. He was signed as a placeholder quarterback with veteran ability. He had failed in his two previous stops but was a coveted free agent to the point that any rookie could learn behind him.
Despite McCarthy showing so well during the first preseason game, he still had hurdles to clear. Now diagnosed with a season-ending knee surgery, we won’t see him on the field at all in 2024. What Sam Darnold does with that opportunity remains to be seen, but it’s ball out or bust for the Vikings.
If Darnold comes out of the gate and looks like the player once expected to be a difference-maker out of USC, then Minnesota may have something. Baker Mayfield resurrected his career last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Darnold doesn’t have to be otherworldly, and he could still push Minnesota to a 2023 Houston Texans-type of season. Those are all unknowns, though, and it could go belly up.
Should Kevin O’Connell start to watch things go poorly, then it might behoove Minnesota to rip off the band-aid. In drafting McCarthy, they held onto their 2025 first-round pick. A poor season would only make that selection more of an impact player, and it could be all systems go in the year ahead.
Of course, there are differing levels of comfort regarding job security for those in charge. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t have a good draft out of the gate, and sustained success is still not something the Vikings have seen. There seems to be a world where he could be fired, and the head coach stays. No matter what, both gentlemen could be toying with their futures.
It shouldn’t take long to see what Darnold can actually be in Minnesota. Once that determination is made, the definition for the rest of the season will be set quickly.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
You must be logged in to post a comment.