For three weeks, Carson Wentz was the veteran firewall protecting the Minnesota Vikings from thrusting J.J. McCarthy back into action too soon.
He did so admirably, completing 69% of his passes for 759 yards passing, five touchdowns and two interceptions en route to a 2-1 record as a starter heading into the bye week.
Wentz is coming off an impressive game-winning drive where he completed 9-for-9 of his throws for 71 yards, capped by a 12-yard touchdown connection with Jordan Addison with 20 seconds left in regulation to clinch a 21-17 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Wentz impressed, but he came away from the game with some injury concerns.
On Monday, head coach Kevin O’Connell said that Wentz returned home from the London game with shoulder soreness, a byproduct of a hit he took in the first half that held him out for a moment before he returned to action.
“Kevin O’Connell said QB Carson Wentz is being further evaluated with the shoulder injury suffered in yesterday’s game,” The Athletic’s Alec Lewis reported. “Sounded like he came in pretty sore. One to watch.”’
JJ McCarthy Facing Potential Premature Return if Carson Wentz Can’t Play Week 7 vs. Eagles
As McCarthy is preparing for his return from a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2, there could be more of an onus on him to be ready ahead of schedule if Wentz is hampered.
O’Connell has maintained that he will not play McCarthy until he is fully healthy, as his footwork is tantamount to not only his success but also protecting himself.
McCarthy appears close, as he was slated to return to practice and do individual drills last Friday if not for rainy conditions at the team’s practice facility in London, England.
The 22-year-old quarterback will have the bye week to progress ahead of the final call of preparing him to be the team’s Week 7 starter against the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, suppose McCarthy is not fully healthy and Wentz is unavailable. O’Connell would have to decide whether it’s worth the risk of reinjury to play McCarthy or pivot to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who has played 13 snaps this season.
Another scenario facing the Vikings is ultimately the decision to stick with Wentz or pivot back to McCarthy. And even if McCarthy returns, how long will his leash be with the Vikings ready to contend now?
Vikings Go Soul-Searching Entering Week 6 Bye
While the Vikings escaped the United Kingdom with a win, they enter the bye with a 3-2 record and are still trying to find their identity as a team.
The injuries that have ravaged the roster through the first five games have left the Vikings admittedly lacking a concrete identity. O’Connell said he and his staff will be searching for answers over the bye week.
“We’ve been pretty banged up at some critical spots… so, we’ve got to get healthy and I think we’ve got to use the time as a coaching staff to figure out what is the identity of this year’s team,” O’Connell said after the Browns game. “It’s been hard to figure out exactly what that looks like, just as it’s been such a game-to-game, really in many ways day-to-day approach.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Vikings, JJ McCarthy Get Concerning Carson Wentz Update appeared first on Heavy Sports.