EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings will keep Carson Wentz as their starting quarterback for the next game, according to coach Kevin O’Connell announced this Tuesday. The decision was made due to the short preparation week before Thursday night’s matchup against the Chargers in Los Angeles. J.J. McCarthy will continue his recovery from a high right ankle sprain and will be the Vikings’ third emergency quarterback for the second week in a row. Max Brosmer, an undrafted rookie, will be Wentz’s backup.
Meanwhile, the Vikings opened the 21-day practice window for running back Aaron Jones, who has been on the injured list since he injured his hamstring in Week 1. O’Connell indicated that Jones may be activated for Thursday night’s game. Jordan Mason has taken over the role of lead running back for the Vikings, accumulating 380 yards and four touchdowns this season. Jones’ absence has been particularly noticeable in the passing game.
O’Connell and the Vikings medical team evaluated McCarthy on the field Tuesday morning. O’Connell said he wanted to get “clarity” on whether McCarthy could be available to play on Thursday. Finally, McCarthy was still limited and the Vikings believe starting him on Thursday night could result in a re-injury. If he is not called for emergency service, McCarthy will miss his 22nd regular season game in 24 opportunities due to injuries since the Vikings selected him with the number 10 pick of the 2024 draft.“We are all quite encouraged by his progress,” O’Connell commented. “But he’s not ready yet.”
Kevin O’ConnellThe evaluation could have been different if the Vikings had played on Sunday instead of Thursday. When asked what threshold he wants to see McCarthy reach before clearing him to play, O’Connell replied: “It’s some of the movements, the reaction movements within the pocket. Being able to use his athleticism to protect himself in the pocket and then as he goes through progressions.”McCarthy said last week that multiple second opinions suggested the injury could take up to six weeks to heal. This gives him a reasonable chance of returning for the Vikings’ next game, on November 2 against the Lions. Wentz, who has led the Vikings to a 2-2 record since replacing McCarthy, stated on Tuesday that he is not thinking about what could happen after this week.“I feel really good about the work we’ve done on the base of his fundamentals,” he added. “That’s been pretty evident through the work he’s put in and really his commitment to it. It’s really about, ‘Hey, maybe a player comes up and I don’t really know what move I’m going to have to make.’ That’s where he still feels it and if he doesn’t have the ability to do it without pain, obviously we run the risk of setting him back, which would be very, very unfortunate with the time already lost”.
Kevin O’Connell“My mindset is to win this game,” Wentz said, “and to focus on the here and now. Frankly, I don’t have much time or energy to think beyond this game. So I’ll let the future take care of itself, but the mindset is to go 1-0 this week and find a way to be mentally and physically as prepared as possible in a short week.”
Carson Wentz
