The Minnesota Vikings are heading into their Week 7 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles with a big question looming over their team. As J.J. McCarthy closes in on a return from an ankle injury he suffered back in Week 2, the coaching staff will have to decide whether or not to turn things back over to him, or continue riding with Carson Wentz at some point in the near future.
With McCarthy still not fully healthy, the Vikings are sticking with Wentz under center for their upcoming contest against the Eagles. However, what the team will do in Week 8 and beyond remains a mystery, and according to a recent report, it sounds like that’s just the way the team wants to keep it.
Vikings Not Rushing Big J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz Decision
After losing Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Nick Mullens in free agency over the offseason, the Vikings turned the starting job over to McCarthy. After being selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy missed the entire season with a meniscus injury, but the team believed he was ready to take over under center heading into the new season.
McCarthy led the Vikings to a thrilling comeback win over the Chicago Bears in Week 1, but he struggled mightily in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. After that game, it was revealed McCarthy picked up an ankle injury that would hold him out for several weeks, forcing Wentz into the action.
Wentz has largely held his own to this point, leading Minnesota to victories in two of his three starts so far. With Wentz looking solid, everyone is wondering what the team will do when McCarthy is fully healthy. According to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, though, it sounds like the team isn’t going to make a decision here until they absolutely have to.
“It appears the whole world wants the Vikings to make a decision on their QB moving forward, while Minnesota is more focused on McCarthy’s development and when he’s ready — especially because he didn’t play as a rookie after suffering a preseason knee injury,” Rapoport wrote on NFL.com.
“If Wentz wins this week, would it make sense to remove him as the starter for a healthy McCarthy? Coaches often roll with the hot hand. If that’s the case, McCarthy would simply wait and learn, while getting in some quality practice time.”
What Should the Vikings Do with J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz?
GettyThe Vikings aren’t going to make a decision on their long-term starter between Carson Wentz and J.J. McCarthy until they have to
Minnesota has put itself in a pretty tough position when it comes to its quarterback position. Wentz has looked better than McCarthy to this point, and with the Vikings believing they have a roster capable of making a playoff run, it makes sense to roll with the guy who is playing better football. The problem is that Minnesota has repeatedly voiced its confidence in McCarthy; would it give up on him after just two middling starts?
Right now, the team doesn’t have to make a decision because McCarthy isn’t fully healthy. With Wentz playing well, it doesn’t make sense for the team to rush McCarthy back into action if they don’t have to. It also doesn’t make sense to rush a decision on the team’s long-term future at quarterback when they don’t have to. As a result, all eyes will be on Wentz to see how he performs in Week 7 against his former team, the Eagles.
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