J.J. McCarthy Uses VR from Sam Darnold's Vikings Practice Videos amid Injury Recovery

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, is out for the entire season after tearing the meniscus in his right knee over the summer.

But the Vikings have constructed a plan for developing him from the sidelines nonetheless.

According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, "To optimize McCarthy's development while on injured reserve, Sam Darnold agreed to wear a modified camera on his helmet during practices and walk-throughs. McCarthy uses the video to simulate practice reps via virtual reality."

The Vikings could have an interesting decision to make this offseason, however.

While Darnold will be a free agent, he's been a revelation in the 2024 campaign, throwing for 3,299 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, taking 40 sacks while completing 68.4 percent of his passes. The turnovers and sacks haven't been great, but everything else has been, and the Vikings could choose to use the franchise tag or offer him a new contract next offseason rather than watching him walk for free.

Keeping him, of course, would potentially force McCarthy to the sidelines for a second straight season. At least he would have VR reps in such a scenario.