JJ McCarthy No. 9 of the Minnesota Vikings, seen here handing off the ball during the pre-season game … [+]
This was something of a knee in the groin of the Minnesota Vikings’ hopes for the upcoming 2024 NFL season. JJ McCarthy was their first choice at quarterback – the tenth overall pick in last April’s draft – and the heir apparent to the former starting quarterback Kirk Cousins who had left for the Atlanta Falcons via free agency.
But after last Saturday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, McCarthy learned he had a torn meniscus in his right knee and underwent surgery on Wednesday. Had the surgery gone one way — toward the partial meniscectomy — the University of Michigan rookie QB could have returned to the field later this season. But the surgery went in the other direction: the meniscus repair direction. And if you get a meniscus repair, your recovery will take a lot longer.
A meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage that sits in your knee joint. Normally you have two in each knee, one lateral and one medial. Twisting your knee when it is under pressure can result in a tear. Symptoms can range from none to “ouch” to not being able to bend your knee properly.
Not all meniscus tears require surgery. It all depends on the symptoms and limitations it causes. In general, it is better to avoid surgery if possible.
One option is the aforementioned partial meniscectomy, in which the surgeon “cuts” or “removes” the torn portion. After surgery, you can usually start weight bearing and walking within a day or two. It will probably be four to six weeks before he can start exercising again.
A meniscus repair is different. It may take six to nine months before you start exercising again. This is because the tear is stitched during a repair. And it takes time for the sutured area to heal. You should remain non-weight bearing for about six weeks, which is a while. While you’re not carrying weight, you may lose muscle mass, which increases recovery time.
The surgical option you choose depends on the location, size and shape of the tear. It’s like deciding whether to sew up that tear in your skinny jeans or just rip it into a hole. A small tear in the seating area is one thing. A large tear in the knee area of the jeans is another. In addition, some tears may be too disjointed, so to speak, to repair effectively.
As for location, blood flow is a big determining factor. The periphery of your meniscus is considered the “red zone,” not because it’s where you score touchdowns, but because it’s the approximately 25% portion of the meniscus that receives good blood flow. Because blood can promote healing, a surgeon can repair a tear in this area. The opposite is the case in the “white zone”, the remaining 75% of the meniscus, which does not receive proper blood flow.
JJ McCarthy was the quarterback for the national champion Michigan Wolverines last season. (Photo … [+]
Not all parts of the meniscus receive the blood flow needed for healing after a repair. The periphery of the meniscus is called the “red zone” because it receives blood flow, but it only covers about 25% of the meniscus. Red zone tears are more likely to heal after repair, so red zone tears are more likely to require repair surgery. The remaining 75% of the meniscus is called the ‘white zone’ because there is no blood flow to it. You are more likely to see a major failure in this area because there is a lack of blood flow.
With McCarthy out, Sam Darnold will now be the starting quarterback for the Vikings. The next time McCarthy will likely be on the field for a real match will be in 2025. He will join Green Bay’s Jordan Love in 2020, Washington’s Jason Campbell in 2005 and Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer in 2003 as quarterbacks selected in the first round. would not have played a single regular season game during their first seasons in the league. But the Vikings hope Darnold will return to the “red zone” on the football field many more times, once the “red zone” in his meniscal heels.
