“When you don’t give up, you don’t fail!” These words from the Vikings’ legendary workhorse Adrian Peterson echo loud in Minnesota right now. Especially for the rookie QB JJ McCarthy, as the young gun had prepared himself to light up the league this season. But fate had other plans—cue the torn meniscus, and the air quickly deflated from the Vikings’ hype balloon. It’s another gut punch for a team that always seems to be dodging a curse. Former NFL star Chris Long didn’t sugarcoat it either, calling it what it is: “Terrible Luck… It’s like they’ve got a ghost chasing them.”

On his podcast Green Light with Chris Long, the ex-defensive end reflected on McCarthy’s injury and pointed to the Vikings’ “awful luck” streak, drawing parallels to other franchises cursed with endless setbacks, especially the ‘Dirty Bird’. He said, “This is another one of those fan bases I put right up there with Falcons fans.” However, he noted that their harsh luck does not come close to that of the Vikes. How?

Well, Long did not mince his words when he said, “They’ve had tragedy, injuries, and it’s just never-ending. You feel for Vikings fans. It’s cold. They’ve been suffering longer than most. And now, it feels like there’s a ghost chasing them.” You’ve got to feel for them. If injuries are a game of inches, the Vikes always seem to be on the wrong side of the yard marker. And this tweet mostly sums it up!

Even if we don’t open the chapters from the past few seasons—this offseason alone feels like a never-ending fumble. The heartbreaking loss of rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson in a fatal car crash set a grim tone. Since then, the hits just keep coming for Minnesota. First, Jordan Addison found himself arrested for a DUI in L.A., asleep in his Rolls Royce on a busy highway. Then, second-year CB Mekhi Blackman tore his ACL on the first day of camp, sidelining him for the season. As if that wasn’t enough, veteran CB Shaquill Griffin pulled a hammy the very next day.

And just when Skol Nation thought they’d reached the bottom, the football gods threw another punch. JJ McCarthy’s season-ending injury was bad enough, but wide receiver Jordan Addison getting carted off the field piled on the anxiety. Luckily, there’s a sliver of hope—HC Kevin O’Connell reassured fans, saying, “I think he’s going to be OK.” The timing could not have been worse; Addison’s scare came just days after McCarthy’s “crushing” announcement, all within the same brutal week.

Despite the dark cloud looming over the team, there’s a flicker of Adrian Peterson’s unbreakable spirit. This setback might be the spark that lights a fire for the young QB’s future. After all, every comeback story needs a rock-bottom moment, right?

JJ McCarthy is the franchise quarterback!

Chris Long was spot on when he said, “The McCarthy thing sucks because he did look good… But this gives him a year to red-shirt.” It’s the silver lining for the Vikings’ rookie QB, JJ McCarthy. Not to mention that it’s a brutal blow to the Vikings faithful who were ready for fireworks. But this redshift year might just be the perfect play. And why not? A year off, learning from the sidelines, and returning stronger. Call it a mead-filled detour—where strength is built before the next battle.

Coach Kevin O’Connell too echoed Long’s optimism, on 14th August, calling McCarthy “motivated and dialed in.” If we go by the coach’s words, then his rookie QB has got the kind of grit that can turn a setback into a setup for a major comeback. Drafted 10th overall, McCarthy was ready to charge out of the college gate and straight to the pro gridiron, but it was not to be. Yet, O’Connell remains calm. Where most of the coaches would be scrambling back to their playbook, he assures, “We’ve got our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building,” signaling that this is just the first quarter of McCarthy’s journey.

Alas, the history books now have McCarthy as the first top-10 QB to miss his rookie season due to injury in the Super Bowl era, per NFL.com. Instead of opting for a quick fix on his meniscus, they went for the full repair. Sure, it’s a longer road. But it’s the right move for the long game. And while the physical reps are out of the picture for now, it’s a real test of McCarthy’s mental game.

However, this allows coach O’Connell to assess his Viking Sam Darnold in 2024. He steps in for Kirk Cousins, who traded his horns for the Falcons’ wings this offseason. Darnold might not have been the first pick, but this isn’t his first dance with adversity. Now, he’s the Viking holding the axe. And the weight of the season rests on his shoulders.

As the Vikings are set to face another season haunted by misfortune, fans wonder: Will this season be the one where they finally lift Thor’s hammer and break free from their string of bad luck? With McCarthy’s future looking bright, it’s time for fans to keep the mead flowing and the chants loud. Skol! One thing’s certain—this team has been through the fire before, and they’ll keep swinging until the final whistle blows.