The Minnesota Vikings QB Carson Wentz recently suffered a series-ending surgery during Thursday night’s clash against the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite his agony and injured left shoulder, the athlete refused to give up. Here’s what Carson said when asked if the team should have pulled him out earlier.

“Truthfully, no. I appreciate that everyone was checking on me and all the stuff — at the end of the day, coaches, trainers. No one really knows the level of pain or difficulty that I may be feeling,” Wentz told ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.

In the wake of Carson Wentz’s injury, the franchise has brought quarterback John Wolford to its practice squad. So far, Wolford has played seven games in the NFL, including four starts from 2020 to 2022. He played one game with the Los Angeles Rams as a starting quarterback in 2020 under Kevin O’Connell‘s leadership as offensive coordinator.

Yes, it’s a reunion for John and Kevin, since the latter now serves as the Vikings’ head coach. Besides his time with the Rams, the onetime Super Bowl champion has played for the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jacksonville Jaguars. He also had a brief yet telling stint with the Arizona Hotshots in the Alliance of American Football. 

As for his new chapter in Minnesota, Wolford joins a squad that’s reeling with injuries and roster shuffles. Alongside returning starter J.J. McCarthy and rookie backup Max Brosmer, his arrival adds depth to the team, which is currently sitting at 3-4. The Vikings gear up for a crucial NFC North matchup against the Detroit Lions, who are at 5-2.

While John prepares to fill in for Carson, the latter’s injury came at a time when his team is struggling. So, what exactly went wrong on Thursday? Carson was already not doing well as he came to the field with a torn labrum and fractured shoulder socket. Earlier this month, the 2017 Pro Bowl sustained a dislocation while playing against the Cleveland Browns. 

Yet, Wentz just wanted to put up a powerful performance and got sacked five times in the process. After his last throw, Carson removed the helmet and buried his face in a towel. Next, he looked up at the sky, and it felt like he was holding back tears. It makes us wonder if he really needed to keep playing.

Did the Vikings push their players too far?

Even after Carson gasped in pain, head coach Kevin O’Connell and the medical staff allowed him to carry on. According to Vikings beat reporter Matthew Coller, even the insiders were equally shocked, just like fans. Unsurprisingly, O’Connell is reportedly facing the heat for his actions.  

In a YouTube clip posted on Coller’s channel, Purple Insider, a source told him that Carson Wentz’s situation is more of a “bleep show” with the training staff this year. They cited that players, including Van Ginkel, Brian O’Neill, Christian Darrisaw, and J.J. McCarthy, also had their injuries mismanaged. 

Moreover, some players on the team have started hinting at discomfort with how things are run. Darrisaw admitted he returned from a torn ACL much earlier than expected, while O’Neil, who suffered a sprained MCL, just missed a game before playing against the Eagles in Week 7. 

The locker room is not happy with how the head coach is pushing his injured players to play. Kevin must realize that the risk isn’t just physical; it’s the player’s emotions that are at stake.