Carson Wentz is set to take the wheel in Minnesota for the Vikings this weekend, with J.J. McCarthy sidelined by a high-ankle sprain suffered in the team’s Week 2 loss to Atlanta.
With Wentz leading Kevin O’Connell’s offense against a hobbled Cincinnati Bengals Week 3, some are wondering what might happen if Minnesota’s newest backup catches fire and does nothing but win in McCarthy’s absence.
ESPN insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano didn’t dismiss the idea that O’Connell and company might roll with the hot hand.
“In Minnesota, what happens if Carson Wentz catches fire over these next few weeks and recharges Minnesota’s offense? Does that then become a temporary reset for J.J. McCarthy after he returns from his high ankle sprain, if only for a few games?” Fowler wrote. “Taking the Vikings’ word about their belief in McCarthy, such a move would be a surprise. But aside from the fourth quarter in Chicago, McCarthy’s play has been worrisome.”
McCarthy Has Had a Bumpy Start to His 2025 Campaign
In his first few starts, McCarthy has had more lows than highs. Week 1 featured a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Bears (he finished 13-of-20 for 143 yards, two TDs, an interception and a 98.5 rating in that game), but through two games, he’s at 301 passing yards with two TDs, three INTs and a very paltry QBR of 20.3.
The Falcons sacked him six times and forced three turnovers in their 22–6 win, but health has also been an issue for J.J.
McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus sustained during the preseason. Now, he’s battling an ankle sprain. It’s a lot to stack on a 22-year-old quarterback who’s effectively making up for a lost year on the fly.
More on the NFL Career of Journeyman Wentz
Wentz’s best season remains his 2017 campaign with the Eagles (33 TDs, 7 INTs, 101.9 rating in 13 games).
While his best days are behind him, he’s flashed situationally in recent years (see: the Rams Week 18 win over the 49ers in 2023, when he threw two touchdowns and scored the game-winner on a keep. More recently, he logged limited snaps with the Chiefs in 2024 before landing in Minnesota.
If he steadies the offense, protects the ball and gels in O’Connell’s scheme, he can at least force a conversation when McCarthy is healthy.
Could Carson Wentz Really Usurp J.J. McCarthy as Starting QB for the Minnesota Vikings?
Graziano was bit more skeptical than Fowler about the idea of Minnesota sticking with Wentz over Mccarthy, but he admitted it remains a distinct possibility.
“Man, if the Vikings moved off McCarthy, they’d pretty much be acknowledging that everything they told us about their faith and belief in him this offseason was a ruse. I think the team really believes he’s at the stage of his development where he needs to play, and I would expect him to get the job back once he’s healthy,” Graziano noted, adding:
“But you make a good point. If Wentz has them humming, it’d be worth wondering whether they’d stick with him. This is a team that won 14 games last season and knows it has a roster capable of making the playoffs. Minnesota wants this to be a key development year for McCarthy, but it also wants to win games.”
Right now, McCarthy’s status is injury-driven, and the team didn’t give up a first-round pick for him to carry a clipboard. But the NFL is a business above all else. If Wentz strings together competent, low-mistake football while McCarthy heals, O’Connell will face a classic quarterback conundrum. How the Vikings handle it will be fascinating.