Minnesota Vikings faithful held their breath when J.J. McCarthy went down in Week 2 with a high ankle sprain. On Friday, Kevin O’Connell said McCarthy is week-to-week, but he dodged the injured reserve list. Now comes the question of who takes the reins.

Carson Wentz is set to step in on Sunday when the Vikings host the Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium. That’s exactly what former Packers star Clay Matthews wants to see from O’Connell, faith in the veteran. “I think Carson Wentz is more prepared to run that offense,” Matthews said on Bussin’ With The Boys. He didn’t stop there.

The veteran pointed out the advantage Wentz has with a full week of prep. “Like, I think O’Connell is going to game plan for this.” And that’s key with the schedule ahead. After Sunday, the Vikings pack their bags for the United Kingdom. They’ll square off against the Steelers in Dublin and the Browns in London before finally catching a Week 6 bye. The 32-year-old could steady the ship during that stretch if O’Connell leans on him.

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Meanwhile, McCarthy’s struggles tell part of the story.

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Through two games, the rookie has completed just 58.5% of his passes and has been sacked nine times. He has thrown for only 301 yards and ranks near the bottom in pressure-to-sack rate. On top of that, he is holding the ball longer than most.

So, in the short term, Wentz might give the Vikings a better chance to stack wins.

Sure, Wentz hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2022, but his résumé is still solid. In 2021, he guided the Colts to nine wins while tossing 27 touchdowns to just seven picks. Before that, he had a run with the Eagles where he went 25-15 with a 98.3 rating. And Matthews isn’t the only one who believes he can run the show.

Analysts keep talking positively about Wentz

NFL.com’s Week 3 bold predictions turned some heads in Skol Nation. David Carr kicked it off by putting Carson Wentz in the spotlight. He predicted a “victorious Vikings debut” with four touchdown passes in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

Carr reminded fans that Wentz will become the first quarterback since 1950 to start for six teams in six years, but he still backed the veteran to play good ball when called on.

Of course, the matchup matters. Wentz draws a Bengals defense that’s looked soft and is nursing injuries to key players. Four touchdown passes might be a little much, but Carr’s bigger point is hard to dismiss. Wentz has the experience to steady the ship, and the setup favors him in his first start at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Fantasy analyst Marcas Grant added another layer to the bold takes. “Vikings’ Jordan Mason is fantasy RB1 in Week 3,” he said, pointing to the way Mason has looked ready to seize the backfield. With Aaron Jones sidelined, Grant expects O’Connell to ride Mason heavily while Wentz gets settled in.

Still, predictions are only predictions. The Vikings’ backfield has depth with Cam Akers and Zavier Scott, but Mason is clearly ahead. If Wentz and Mason both deliver on Sunday, what’s supposed to be bold might look obvious. And if that happens, the Bengals could be staring at a blowout in the Bold North.