The Minnesota Vikings are currently enjoying their bye week, one that comes at a great time for the team. Minnesota is one of the more banged-up teams in the league right now, with key players such as C Ryan Kelly, RT Brian O’Neill, LG Donovan Jackson, RB Aaron Jones Sr., LB Blake Cashman, and ED Andrew Van Ginkel all dealing with various ailments. Kelly, Jones, and Cashman are currently on Injured Reserve (IR).
Still, even on an off week, controversy swirls around the Vikings. There’s some quarterback intrigue happening in Minnesota. Starting QB J.J. McCarthy has been out since Week 2 with a high-ankle sprain, and now backup QB Carson Wentz is dealing with a shoulder injury. Neither quarterback is guaranteed to be good to go against the Eagles in Week 7.
On Sunday morning, NFL insider Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shed some light on the Vikings’ quarterback dilemma on the NFL GameDay show. “The Vikings’ quarterback situation is murky, to say the least,” Pelissero said. “J.J. McCarthy, I’m told, got good work during the bye week. He should be able to return to practice this week, but McCarthy is still not 100 percent on that ankle.”
“They gotta see his mobility, they gotta see how the ankle responds, and they gotta make sure he is comfortable and in a groove from an operational perspective before they put him back out on the field. Meanwhile, his backup, Carson Wentz, [is] dealing with a left shoulder injury. He could be limited in practice this week. A lot to sort through to figure out who’s going to be out there on the field next week against the Eagles.”
Is There a Starting Quarterback Controversy for the Minnesota Vikings?
Charles McQuillan/GettyDUBLIN, IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Carson Wentz of Minnesota Vikings (#11) makes a pass during the NFL 2025 game between Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park on September 28, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
A second-year passer out of Michigan, McCarthy was the No. 10 overall pick in 2024 and missed his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus. In his stead, reclamation quarterback Sam Darnold had a sensational season, leading the Vikings to 14 wins, though he couldn’t get it done in the playoffs. Minnesota chose to let him walk in the offseason, anointing McCarthy as the guy this season.
This is essentially McCarthy’s rookie season, and some growing pains were to be expected. Still, this staff took a risk not re-signing Darnold and committing to McCarthy, and in his two games, it’s been more bad than good. He’s thrown for 301 yards and two touchdowns, adding 50 yards and another score on the ground. But McCarthy also threw three interceptions, completed less than 60 percent of his passes, and failed to execute consistent offense, really only having one good quarter of play out of eight.
Meanwhile, the veteran Wentz has been steadier, but not good. In three games, he has 759 passing yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. He’s completing 69 percent of his passes.
The Minnesota Vikings Enter a Tough Three-Game Stretch
Coming out of their bye week, the Vikings play the Eagles, Chargers, and Lions in quick succession. That’s a brutal three-game stretch, and if McCarthy is able to return, he’ll be thrown right back to the wolves.
It doesn’t get much easier after that, as the Vikings still have to play the Packers, Seahawks, Commanders, Cowboys, Lions, and Packers later in the year. It’s a tough schedule, and one that doesn’t allow McCarthy to get his feet under him before he’ll be called upon to step up and win games.
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