The beginning of quarterback J.J. McCarthy 's career with the Minnesota Vikings hasn't gone the way that anybody would have wanted.
McCarthy tore the meniscus in his knee and had season-ending surgery to repair it back in August after his dazzling debut against the Las Vegas Raiders in the preseason opener. Then, he had a second procedure on his knee that required a platelet rich plasma injection along with an incision, both of which can be common with this type of injury.
As things currently sit, the Vikings are hoping to have McCarthy back for the majority if not all of the offseason program. What we hadn't heard was thoughts from McCarthy on his healing process. That changed earlier this week.
J.J. McCarthy makes first public remark about second knee procedure
McCarthy hasn't done a lot of interviews since joining the Vikings, but he did make time to join fellow Michigan Wolverine Jake Butt on The L.A.B. podcast to talk about "The Game" against Ohio State and he opened by discussing his knee.
"The knees doing well. I really appreciate you having me on Jake, but I think it's a special one because it's Ohio State weekend. It's a beautiful Tuesday, yeah, here in November. But you know, the knee is doing fantastic. It's on the road that they told me it was going to be on, which is up and down, upside down, I mean, sideways, backwards, all the way around. So, PRP (platelet rich plasma), we got that done. So going in there and having to get cut open wasn't great, but it's all right, because, you know, it's all part of the process."
Butt is an interesting first interview post second knee procedure for two reasons.
- A familiarity and camaraderie being from Michigan
- Butt tore his ACL in his final collegiate game
McCarthy essentially confirmed what we already knew: his knee had a second procedure that included both an incision and a PRP injection. The other element that was important in what McCarthy said about the process being up and down. That tells you the Vikings really aren't too concerned, just as they've been the entire time when speaking to the media.
There isn't much to read into with this interview other than things seem to be just fine with McCarthy.
