They say bad things happen in threes, but for the Minnesota Vikings sake, two is more than enough for fans to handle in one day.
Earlier on Wednesday, it was announced that rookie first-round pick, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, underwent surgery to repair his meniscus. The biggest news of the situation?
McCarthy was pronounced out for the entire 2024 season. The former Michigan man will have to wait until Year 2 for an opportunity to see regular season action and, as if it weren't already Sam Darnold's job, it is certainly etched in stone now.
What will the Vikings do in the wake of McCarthy's injury? Well, for starters, they now have another major situation unfolding before they potentially look for another quarterback.
A couple of hours later, though, another enormous hit came as Vikings second-year wide receiver and 2023 first-round pick, Jordan Addison, went down with an apparent leg injury in a joint practice versus the Cleveland Browns.
How bad was the injury? See for yourself.
The cart now coming out to take Jordan Addison back to the locker room
— Matthew Coller (@MatthewColler) August 14, 2024
With the second-year pro being carted off the practice field, the Vikings are once again down a top wide receiver.
Last year, it was Justin Jefferson who missed extended time due to injury, forcing players like Addison, among others, to step up in his place.
Jordan Addison injury could force another young Minnesota Vikings player into a significant role
At this stage, it's too early to know just how long Addison will be sidelined for. In any event, the Vikings offense will be prepared to give a monstrous opportunity to 2022 sixth-round pick Jalen Nailor, the former Michigan State standout.
Already, reports were stating that Nailor seemed to be locking down the WR3 job and has had a strong camp. He looked good in his preseason action last week against the Raiders, catching three of four targets for 63 yards.
In two years as a pro, Nailor has not been featured too much. He's totaled just 12 receptions for 208 yards and one touchdown.
If Addison is out for an extended period of time, Nailor will be thrown into the fire. Fortunately, he has indeed had some great practices and, hopefully, would relish the opportunity.
Now, a cart coming out for a player during training camp isn't always a death sentence. Let's remember that. If anything, they take far more precautions with players at training camp. So, for now, we'll hope for the best and continue to keep you updated with the latest news on the Addison front.
Update: Thankfully, it seems as though Addison has escaped a significant injury as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Wednesday that the receiver's ankle injury isn't believed to be serious.