Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) drops back against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
A weekend publication from VikingsTerritory, we present to you: the Vikings Nopedy Nopes of the week.
The nopedy nopes are weekly Minnesota Vikings-themed items that we’re not buying. It’s a spin-off of our rumor mill, and we hope you enjoy. Here is the 35th batch of Vikings nopedy nopes in the series’ history.
McCarthy had an injection in his knee this week — that was phrased by some as “another surgery.”
“As his rehab has picked up, we noticed a little swelling in there, and just with the time that we do have … we just wanted to make sure there was no cause for concern. All reports were very positive, and he’s on the original timetable and in good shape,” O’Connell told reporters Wednesday.
Folks freaked out about an emergency-style surgery, mainly because the Vikings never have good luck.
O’Connell also told the media, “He’s really knocked it out of the park every step of the way, and as his rehab has picked up, we noticed a little swelling in there. He’s been doing everything we asked of him, but just wanted to make sure that there was no cause for concern, and all reports were very positive.”
Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling added about the budding controversy: “Source confirmed ESPN’s Kevin Seifert’s report that J.J. McCarthy had a biologic injection to deal with intermittent swelling in his knee. No change to his recovery timeline. To be clear: Source said it was just an injection for McCarthy. No second surgery.”
It was an injection, which is pretty standard. An out-of-nowhere, full-scale surgery would’ve raised eyebrows, but this wasn’t that.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
Sam Darnold produced an awful game last Sunday, diming 3 interceptions to no touchdowns en route to his team’s 12-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
And per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the performance was so poor that the Vikings should contemplate the free-agent addition of Ryan Tannehill. Florio tweeted during Jaguars-Vikings, “Is it crazy to wonder what Kevin O’Connell could do with Ryan Tannehill down the stretch? Because it really looks like the Sam Darnold chariot has turned back into a pumpkin.”
Tannehill will only get a call from Minnesota — if at all — should an injury end Darnold’s season. Tannehill is not an upgrade to Darnold, he’s old, and he’d have to learn a new offense on the fly.
Not gonna happen.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
Reporters asked head coach Kevin O’Connell if he had a moment when he considered tossing Mullens into action last weekend when Darnold was throwing interceptions, and he replied, “Not one. Not one all day long. In fact, I was looking at it as a great opportunity to see growth and continue to move the team. We’re going to check back on this moment and use it the right way, and Sam is going to be better off for it. I truly do believe that.”
O’Connell added, “We’re still 100% confident in Sam. It would be craziness not to be.”
What’s more, the only knock on the Darnold alternative, Nick Mullens — is too many interceptions.
Unless Darnold fires up more games of interception hell, his job is safe. He’ll probably bounce back on Sunday at the Titans.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.