The Minnesota Vikings don’t have the luxury of making the call about who will be their quarterback the rest of the season; they’re just trying to figure out who will be under center four days from Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
An NFL Network report posed that Carson Wentz had an opportunity to win the starting job coming out of the bye if he performed well. But after throwing two interceptions and converting just 1 of 6 trips in the red zone for a touchdown, Wentz would surely be on watch to lose the starting role under normal circumstances.
But this is Minnesota.
The Vikings’ poor quarterback luck has bled into this season with J.J. McCarthy still recovering from a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2 that thrust Wentz into the starting role.
Wentz is also dealing with a shoulder injury he sustained in Week 5, which has put the starting job into question ahead of “Thursday Night Football” against the Los Angeles Chargers.
After the Eagles’ game, head coach Kevin O’Connell left the quarterback spot open for debate as health continues to be the deciding factor.
“We’ve got to see how he [Wentz] comes out health-wise. I know Max [Brosmer] was ready to go today,” O’Connell said. “We will see how [McCarthy] feels as well. On a short week, we are gonna put together the best plan we can, and that also includes the players available to us.”
Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Defends Carson Wentz After Eagles Loss
While O’Connell was left to largely comment on health being the deciding factor at quarterback going forward, he did come to the defense of Wentz, who threw an interception in the red zone and a pick-six.
“I thought he competed. Clearly, he was able to allow our offense to be explosive. The turnover plays are the first one, obviously, you know, even if we end up having to take a sack right there, you know, interceptions for points the other way, are massive plays in the game,” O’Connell said. “But listen, he was, trying to compete. He thought he saw a chance to make the throw.”
Wentz completed five passes for 20 yards or more and totaled 313 yards through the air. However, he was inaccurate and missed many opportunities. Wentz finished the game 26 of 42 on pass attempts for a 64.9 passer rating.
Vikings QB Carson Wentz Shows True Colors Against Former Eagles
Before kickoff on Sunday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggested that Wentz could hold onto the starting job with a strong performance against the Eagles.
Wentz had led the Vikings to a 2-1 record entering the bye, but Sunday was evidence that the Vikings will take when making their decision.
They have four games with Wentz under center to evaluate. He’s gone 2-2 as a starter and shown he’s fully capable of running the offense.
However, Wentz, in his 10th year as a starter, is a proven commodity. He is not going to evolve like Sam Darnold did last year — and his level of play won’t carry the team far.
It bears repeating until it finally happens this season: the Vikings must see what they have in McCarthy.
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