EAGAN, Minn. — Fresh off a stellar showing in his first NFL preseason game, rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was held out of Monday's night practice because of soreness in his right knee.
Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell announced the status of the 21-year-old quarterback shortly before Monday's practice was set to begin. O'Connell said McCarthy is getting tests, but didn't elaborate on the severity of the issue.
"It was something where he obviously finished the game (Saturday), threw a touchdown on his last pass, but out of precaution, we're going to continue evaluation on him and get some more testing done," O'Connell said Monday. "Very important player, obviously, so we want to make sure we're smart about that before he participates — have a good understanding of where he's at."
McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick out of Michigan, had a solid showing on Saturday in his preseason debut against the Las Vegas Raiders. After throwing an interception in his first possession, he bounced back to throw for two third-quarter touchdowns to help the Vikings overcome a 20-7 halftime deficit. He ended the game 11 of 17 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
The Vikings are scheduled to travel to Cleveland this week for joint practices with the Browns, however, it's unclear if McCarthy is still planning to travel with the team.
The Vikings also brought in cornerback Stephon Gilmore for a visit Monday to potentially provide a boost in the secondary. The five-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year also has some familiarity playing in defensive coordinator Brian Flores' scheme.
“We’re very proud of the atmosphere, our locker room, our players,” O'Connell said. "I think it's a positive to give guys a sneak preview of what they might be joining.”