The Minnesota Vikings did not get inspiring quarterback play from Carson Wentz against the Philadelphia Eagles in their Week 7 home loss, and the injury news in the aftermath on both he and fellow signal-caller J.J. McCarthy wasn’t much better.
Minnesota is on the road for a “Thursday Night Football” showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers on October 23, which means a short week for a banged-up quarterback room facing several questions.
“J.J. McCarthy acknowledged late last week that his injured right ankle still isn’t fully healed,” Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk wrote October 20. “Monday’s practice report indicates he’s still not at 100 percent.”
McCarthy was a limited participant in practice after serving as QB3 and Minnesota’s emergency signal-caller against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7.
Meanwhile, Wentz threw two interceptions in a six-point defeat to the Eagles. A left shoulder injury he sustained 15 days ago against the Cleveland Browns in London, England remains an issue for him, as Wentz was also limited at Monday’s practice.
Vikings Advised to Start Max Brosmer Over Injured, Struggling Carson Wentz
GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter told “The Pat McAfee Show that there was “a chance” McCarthy might return the following week against the Detroit Lions coming off another 10 days rest, which essentially slams the door on McCarthy playing Thursday night in L.A.
So where does that leave the Vikings? Yes, it’s bad news that Wentz’s shoulder is still bothering him. One might also consider it bad news that Minnesota has to ponder running Wentz out there at all against defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and a relatively stout Chargers defense, even despite the 38 points the Indianapolis Colts (6-1) hung on Los Angeles in Week 7.
Judd Zulgad of SKOR North suggested on Sunday that Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell give undrafted rookie Max Brosmer a look as the potential starter in three days time.
“If McCarthy isn’t ready to play Thursday — and given how Wentz performed Sunday — is suggesting Brosmer to start really that big of a stretch?” Zulgad wrote. “After watching Wetnz against the Eagles, I’m not sure it is.”
Max Brosmer May Prove Best Option for Vikings Until They Can Get Back to J.J. McCarthy in Week 9
GettyQuarterback Max Brosmer of the Minnesota Vikings.
Brosmer is a 24-year-old player out of the University of Minnesota who produced a solid enough preseason for the Vikings to move on from both Sam Howell and Brett Rypien.
However, Brosmer has yet to take a regular-season snap at the NFL level. He completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 2,828 yards, 18 TDs and six INTS during his senior year with the Golden Gophers in 2024 (13 games played).
Since joining the Vikings, Brosmer has built a reputation as a well-prepared professional, and O’Connell noted during the postgame press conference on Sunday that he would have been comfortable putting Brosmer in the game in relief of Wentz had that proven necessary.
Wentz’s injury is to his non-throwing shoulder, and it wouldn’t be that far outside the realm of normalcy for the Vikings to keep him limited all the way through Wednesday and still start him, as the team is playing a road game on a short week.
Still, if Wentz struggles early, Minnesota fans could end up watching an untested and undrafted rookie trying to navigate a high-level defense under the spotlight in his first action ever as a professional. And that is reason for at least moderate concern following the Vikings’ 3-3 start.
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