Carson Wentz’s journey is not paved out of a traditional route but has been rather unconventional. When the Minnesota Vikings signed Carson Wentz in 2025, many viewed it as a veteran fallback option. But head coach Kevin O’Connell is betting his team can extract more than a stopgap from the veteran. Wentz is set to become the first player in league history to start for six different teams in six consecutive seasons.

While speaking to the media, O’Connell said,  “I think he’s had a really unique journey. At one point in time in Philadelphia, he was one of the best players in the league at the position. He has developed a unique perspective at this point, which makes it enjoyable to coach him. The dialogue and how these plans come to life, with him having some input and involvement, which leads to your first question of just his comfort level when we get to the game. And ultimately, how we call the game and how we try to execute it best with Carson playing quarterback for us. I’ve been really happy with him.”

Kevin O’Connell now attributes Wentz’s unique understanding of offensive schemes to his extensive football schooling, which included stops in Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Kansas City. He highlights Wentz’s combination of stature, intelligence, and prior experience working with coaches like Andy Reid and Sean McVay as the reasons he is an asset to the side.  

Wentz’s record supports that argument. He was previously considered one of the best quarterbacks and was chosen second overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Performances like over 3,500 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2021 with the Colts and a Pro Bowl nod in 2017 were the results of his best seasons in Philadelphia and Indianapolis.

Wentz has thrown 523 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions in just two games this season, which combine with a 98.2 passer rating and a 66.7% completion rate. Wentz is “two tipped-ball interceptions away from a clean sheet,” according to O’Connell, highlighting how performance is frequently determined by narrow margins. On the other side, O’Connell has given us an update on the rookie QB.

McCarthy’s High-Ankle Sprain Halts Momentum

Minnesota’s rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Week 2 loss to Atlanta. The injury forced him out of the lineup for the Week 3 contest against Cincinnati, as the Vikings ruled him out for at least 2-4 weeks.

“We had a little bit of a hybrid day. We got some full speed work, with some extra volume of reps, and slowed the tempo down a little bit. JJ is working his way back. He is entering the next phase of his rehab, where he can get a little bit more active. Looking forward to getting him back on the field practicing with the team as soon as we can,” O’Connell said.

Coach Kevin O’Connell characterized the team’s work style as “hybrid,” combining lighter pace work with full-speed drills to gradually reintegrate McCarthy. According to him, McCarthy is moving closer to playing on the pitch as his ankle heals and is starting a more active phase of rehabilitation.

The Vikings are taking it slow. O’Connell emphasized that McCarthy should wait for the elevated ankle to completely heal before attempting increasingly difficult repetitions. It is intended to progressively increase his skill level through technique practice and re-acclimation to game speed. McCarthy would get extra time to recover during the Week 6 bye and, in theory, be ready to play in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

McCarthy’s performance in early 2025 was inconsistent. He recorded two touchdowns, three interceptions, and 301 passing yards with a completion rate of over 58.5 percent during two starts.

In the meantime, veteran Carson Wentz is in charge of starting. The Vikings want to bring McCarthy back into the fold without jeopardizing his long-term prospects. As they work to maintain McCarthy’s trajectory, the next several weeks will put their ability to strike a balance between a flurry and caution to the test.