The Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Carson Wentz, was put on injured reserve Monday and is set to undergo a season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. The 32-year-old suffered the injury in the game against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 5 and was seen in visible discomfort as he played through it in the game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. It wasn’t until 1:56 in the fourth quarter that rookie QB Max Brosmer was called to replace him.

Naturally, fingers were raised against head coach Kevin O’Connell for not taking the call earlier. However, despite going through what he himself described as “quite possibly” the worst pain of his career, Wentz refused to throw the Vikings HC and medical staff under the bus.

“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 said on being asked if he should have been taken off the field sooner. “And I know TV copies can show stuff people on sidelines don’t see, but I never once felt unsafe.”

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 with the Los Angeles Rams. In fact, he was coached by O’Connell in the 2020-21 season.

Besides his time with the Rams, Wolford has also spent time with the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

With Wentz out for the season, Wolford brings depth behind returning starter J.J. McCarthy and Brosmer as the Vikings prepare for Sunday’s NFC North clash against the Detroit Lions (5-2).

But could Wentz’s loss have been avoided?

Did the Vikings push their players too far?

Even after Carson gasped in pain from a torn labrum and fractured socket, 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 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. O’Connell must realize that the risk isn’t just physical; it’s the player’s emotions that are at stake.