Vikings place J.J. McCarthy on season-ending injured reserve, sign UFL champion in his place
The Minnesota Vikings made the inevitable roster move by placing rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy on season-ending injured reserve. They needed to add a quarterback to the roster to get through the preseason and did so by signing UFL champion Matt Corral from the Birmingham Stallions. The move isn't unexpected by the Vikings either. The plan […]
The Minnesota Vikings made the inevitable roster move by placing rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy on season-ending injured reserve. They needed to add a quarterback to the roster to get through the preseason and did so by signing UFL champion Matt Corral from the Birmingham Stallions.
The move isn't unexpected by the Vikings either. The plan for McCarthy has always been to prioritize his long-term health and placing him on injured reserve is a smart move for that purpose. Having the full repair lengthens his timeline but that's not a big deal. I spoke to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Matt Anderson, an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at the Bone and Joint Institute in Franklin, Tennessee about the difference between the procedures and he had this to say about that.
“The other big consideration in deciding between meniscus repair and debridement is the recovery timeline. Following a meniscus repair, patients are typically not allowed to bear weight through the affected leg for several weeks. Full return to activity often requires 3-4 months of rehabilitation. On the other hand, patients that undergo meniscus debridement are typically not restricted following the procedure and can return to sport as early as 3-4 weeks after surgery. So there’s a balance between wanting to preserve the integrity and health of the knee while listening to a patient’s goals, which for professional athletes often involves returning to competition as quickly as possible.”
Corral played for the UFL's Birmingham Stallions last season and earned the starting job. He ended up losing it to Adrian Martinez who ended up winning the MVP award. During the season, he threw for 494 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while also running for 92 yards.
A former third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2022, Corral was a project who displays high-upside arm talent but needed a lot of refining. He gets a chance to play for the Vikings likely in their final preseason game to prove he deserves a chance to stick on the active roster or be on the practice squad.
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