The Minnesota Vikings will have Carson Wentz under center for the fourth straight game in Week 7, with head coach Kevin O’Connell announcing the decision on Friday. The decision fueled debates already underway, with Wentz scrutinized as a result.
The Vikings will face the team that drafted Wentz No. 2 overall in 2016, the Philadelphia Eagles, in Week 7, and the “revenge game” narrative has been prevalent.
However, an argument was also made against the idea of Wentz’s “revenge” on the Eagles.
Vikings QB Carson Wentz Gets Harsh Truth Before Eagles Game
GettyCarson Wentz #11 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts against the Cleveland Browns.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo both framed this game as an opportunity for Wentz to exact “revenge” against the Eagles.
He was having an MVP-caliber season with the franchise before a knee injury opened the door for Nick Foles to lead the Super Bowl charge. Still, Wentz spent three more seasons with the Eagles after that. Moreover, memories of his time as a backup on that Super Bowl team linger.
“I don’t think I have anger, but I still have ill will towards Carson Wentz because that video of him saulking in the locker room after the Super Bowl win will never leave my brain,” “Watching the Birds” host John Barchard posted on X on October 17. “His contributions will never match destroying that locker room.”
Some fans pushed back, noting Wentz also helped position the Eagles for that title run.
However, Barchard was not alone in disagreeing with how Wentz is framed coming into this matchup. Again, it was the events that took place between his injury and exit that were in focus.
“Hard to call it a revenge game when the team benched you while you were playing terribly and then acquiesced to your trade request in the offseason, trading you to the coach you wanted to play for,” Eagles Pin-Pull’s Shane Haff posted on October 17. “The Eagles didn’t do wrong by Carson Wentz. Every time a player plays a former team we don’t have to call it a ‘revenge’ game.”
Some fans defended Wentz amid the onslaught of fiery reactions to his facing the Eagles, with the QB’s comments during this past week of preparation – before he even knew he would be the team’s starter – belying the “revenge” narrative.
Carson Wentz Gets Honest About Facing Eagles
GettyCarson Wentz of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during a game against the Cleveland Browns.
For his part, Wentz, who is 2-1 as the Vikings’ starting quarterback, said that there is “not really” any significance in facing the Eagles this week. He has faced them once before, and lost, but that is not why this is “another opponent” for the veteran.
“Maybe earlier in my career, maybe, had different feelings. But at the same time, you look over there, and there’s – I’m not even sure there’s anybody on the defensive side that I played with. It just looks different,” Wentz told reporters on October 15. “A lot of respect for those guys. Because there’s still guys in that organization, there’s a lot of good people that I still have a lot of care for and respect for. But at the same time, that feels like multiple lifetimes ago at this point.”
Wentz also said he was “thankful” for his time with the Eagles.
“They went and got me at a high pick. All the things. It was quite the rollercoaster over there. Winning the Super Bowl, even though I was hurt, right here in this stadium. It was – I’m thankful for so many things. I grew up as a man. I got married, had a kid while I was there,” Wentz said during his media availability.
“There’s so many life changes that took place there. So, grateful for my time there. Obviously, it came to an end rather abruptly. All the things, everybody knows all that. But grateful for all the opportunities I had while I was there.”
Carson Wentz: ‘God’s Writing the Story’
Jack Thomas/Getty ImagesCarson Wentz #11 of the Minnesota Vikings adjusts a play against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wentz previously said that he would swap places with Foles for that Super Bowl, but noted that his feelings about the Eagles are “one of those things” and his answer is “different every year.”
“Life’s a journey,” Wentz said. “God’s writing the story, and I’m just along for the ride, so to speak. Doing the best I can, and I’ve grown up as a man. Now, I’ve got almost [my] fourth kid coming here soon. Life’s just different, and it’s one of those things. I don’t take things for granted. I have a different appreciation for things that, maybe, I wish I would have had a little bit different back then. But you live, you learn, and you grow, and that’s all you can do.”
His journey took him to four other teams between leaving the Eagles and joining the Vikings.
This is a full-circle opportunity for Wentz, even if the 2017 Pro Bowler does not see the “revenge” aspect of it.
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