The Minnesota Vikings are biding time until J.J. McCarthy is healthy and capable of playing again, and the interim hasn’t looked great, leading to some chatter of the team potentially dealing veteran Carson Wentz ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
While Wentz has gone 1-1 as a starter and thrown for 261.5 yards per game, four touchdowns and two interceptions, the offense has stalled out many times due to struggles in pass protection. Wentz hasn’t looked like more than a backup quarterback in his two starts as signs point to McCarthy taking back the starting job soon.
The Vikings‘ plan this season was to develop McCarthy, through the highs and the lows, and hopefully be in position to make a push for the playoffs as he matures in his first year as a starter.
So far, Wentz has not done enough to defer that plan — and ESPN insider Dan Graziano seems to see a likelihood that the veteran quarterback gets dealt before the trade deadline.
In an October 1 article, Graziano took the temperature of a quarterback trade happening by the November 4 deadline. He named Wentz at the first quarterback he said could be moved.
“[It’s] True. It could be someone such as Carson Wentz or Kenny Pickett,” Graziano said before speculating further about the potential for a higher-profile quarterback to be traded.
Carson Wentz Hasn’t Won the Vikings Job Over McCarthy
GettyVikings veteran quarterback Carson Wentz is subject to trade chatter ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
The mention of Wentz as a trade candidate is surprising given the Vikings do not have another veteran quarterback internally.
However, the Vikings are not heavily invested in Wentz, who signed with the team just two weeks before the start of the season.
The Wentz signing was seemingly for him to serve as a veteran buffer to keep rookie quarterback Max Brosmer from being thrust into action prematurely.
However, Wentz has seen the field more than anticipated with McCarthy missing the past two games with a high ankle sprain. McCarthy is expected to return soon after the bye week, but what the Vikings record will look like remains a mystery.
If Wentz makes a more convincing case in the rest of his playing time, he may have more security in Minnesota.
However, Graziano seems to have a sense that the veteran quarterback may be a target if McCarthy retakes the starting role job.
Wentz Not to Blame for Vikings’ Offensive Struggles
It’s no fault of Wentz’s that he cannot overcome the Vikings surrendering sacks at a historic pace.
According to Pro Football Reference, the Vikings have surrendered sacks on 13.95% of dropbacks this season, the highest rate in team history and the 12th highest in NFL history.
The offense has been incapable of sustaining drives because of the playcalling and lack of protection — ranking 26th in first downs, 28th in time of possession and 29th in total plays.
The starting offensive line has not played a single snap together this season and don’t appear poised to do so until after the Week 6 bye.
Until then, it’s been a feeding frenzy for opposing defenses that neither Wentz nor McCarthy should be expected to overcome.
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