In the 2024 NFL Draft, six rookie quarterbacks were chosen within the top 12 picks, each stepping into a high-pressure role with their new teams. These teams face the serious challenge of providing the optimal environment for these rookies to develop into their potential franchise quarterbacks.
Among them, the Minnesota Vikings are taking an innovative approach to aid their rookie QB, J.J. McCarthy, who is recovering from a torn meniscus sustained during training camp. According to Diana Russini from The Athletic, the Vikings plan to leverage virtual reality to support McCarthy’s development while he is sidelined. Once cleared medically, McCarthy will engage with virtual reality programs designed to keep him involved with the game despite his injury.
The strategy includes McCarthy preparing for each weekly game plan as though he were the starting quarterback. Russini mentioned that McCarthy will be actively participating in the quarterbacks’ room and engaging with the team’s weekly strategies. While the specifics of this virtual reality training are yet to be fully detailed, it appears McCarthy will be immersing himself in simulated football scenarios until he can return to the field.
However, McCarthy is set to become the first first-round quarterback since 1967 to miss an entire rookie season due to injury, granting him ample time to study and refine his skills for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, Sam Darnold takes on the starting role, aiming to revive his career with a renewed mindset reminiscent of Baker Mayfield’s comeback story. It will be intriguing to see how McCarthy’s virtual reality training uncovers, as it promises to add a modern twist to it’s preparation.