The Minnesota Vikings played more than well enough to win with quarterback Carson Wentz under center last weekend, which has masked J.J. McCarthy’s early struggles and injury to some degree, while also shining a light on the concerning nature of both.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler suggested on Wednesday that Wentz could possibly play well enough over the next couple of weeks to keep McCarthy sidelined, even once he returns to full health.
Former NFL Pro Bowl QB and Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms told Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio on the Thursday edition of “PFT Live” that he is “worried” about McCarthy and his future in Minnesota.
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“I don’t like to start controversies or anything like that, but I would be worried about J.J. McCarthy,” Simms said. “Yeah, he had the great quarter, the fourth quarter against the Bears, OK. But what really makes me think is just the throwing part of it. You know, he’s just not throwing the ball well when he was out there.”
Simms also suggested that McCarthy is only accurate when he wings passes as hard as he can, which strongly implies that the 22-year-old quarterback doesn’t have the touch necessary to make several important throws at the NFL level.
“It’s a lot of work, and it seems like unless he gets to throw it as hard as he can throw it, that’s the only time he somewhat puts it on target, on time, and everything like that,” Simms added. “I think they got a lot of work to do if they want to turn him into what they call a franchise quarterback, and he’s gonna need a lot of work, a lot of playing time, practice time . . . and it wouldn’t shock me if Carson Wentz — they keep him in there until it turns and where they can see bringing J.J. McCarthy back in would be a lift to the team.”
Wentz went 14-of-20 for 173 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-10 blowout victory over the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend. McCarthy is 24-of-41 for 301 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in the two games he’s played in the NFL.
McCarthy’s projected return timeline following his Week 2 injury against the Atlanta Falcons was initially between 2-4 weeks, which would mean he could potentially be healthy enough to play in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns in London.
Otherwise, McCarthy would not likely return to the starting lineup before Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles, as the Vikings have a bye in Week 6 after their two-game trip to Europe that begins Sunday.