Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy may return this week vs. the Detroit Lions after a puzzling six-week recovery. In his absence, veteran Carson Wentz played through injuries to steady the team. Now, with Wentz likely done for the season, scrutiny is mounting over the coaching staff’s handling of the situation.

“The Vikings medical staff KNEW about this fracture, and the coaches STILL decided to go with a hobbled Wentz over a healthy and cleared J.J. McCarthy,” an X post by Jesse Morse, M.D. read.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the QB suffered a shoulder dislocation, including a torn labrum and a fractured socket, during the Vikings’ game against the Cleveland Browns in London. He took three hard hits during the first half of the game. The worst was the last hit by linebacker Carson Schwesinger, which ultimately caused the injury.

However, that didn’t stop the player. Wentz returned in the second half, wearing a harness to protect his injured shoulder, and completed all nine of his passes on a clutch fourth-quarter drive that helped the team take a 21-17 lead.

Many believe head coach Kevin O’Connell started Wentz in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles despite his injury, even though J.J. McCarthy appeared healthy.

“McCarthy served as the emergency QB in weeks seven and eight. That means he was medically cleared. What does that say about their confidence in McCarthy?” the post further questioned the coach’s decisions.

Earlier, during a press conference, the coach clarified that McCarthy had been practicing before the Week 8 game, but both the QB and the medical staff felt he wasn’t ready. Following this, he assured that McCarthy will play if he is healthy.

“If J.J. is healthy, J.J. will play,” the coach said about the QB. “That’s been the case since the injury. That’s always been kind of my mindset, and I believe we’re right…hopefully…around the corner from seeing him be healthy, have a week of preparation and go compete.”

The 22-year-old was the backup QB while Wentz started the game against the Los Angeles Chargers. During the game in Week 8, Wentz was clearly in pain. Later, he explained that it was “quite possibly” the most pain he had ever witnessed. Now, with a new update on the QB’s injury, the Vikings might look at McCarthy.

Carson Wentz will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery

The quarterback is reportedly set to undergo season-ending surgery to repair his left shoulder injury. Before the update, he had started five games for the team.

Throughout that stretch, he absorbed plenty of hits, including being sacked five times in Week 8.

The pain was so intense that at one point during the game, he threw his helmet in frustration after taking a hit on a fourth-down incompletion in the fourth quarter. Later, he apologized for the outburst and spoke openly about how much pain he was in.

“The pain is pain,” Wentz said. “I felt like I could still help this team and find a way to go down and score and all that stuff. So, we knew that coming into the game, that it was going to be part of it. And again, that’s the tough part of Thursday night games. [You] just don’t quite get the chance to recover, but that’s no excuse by any means.”

With Wentz down, the team might have to start McCarthy when they reach Ford Field on November 2.