The Vikings are holding steady in London with Carson Wentz set for another start, but the franchise’s long-term plan remains
The Vikings are holding steady in London with Carson Wentz set for another start, but the franchise’s long-term plan remains unchanged. Rookie J.J. McCarthy is still recovering from a high ankle sprain, and when he returns, the starting job is waiting for him. That was reaffirmed this week by The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who reported “when McCarthy is ready, when he’s had a full week of practice and when he’s healthy, he’ll be the starter.”
Minnesota has made no secret about its commitment to the No. 10 overall pick. What’s clear now is that his return is not tied to outside speculation but to health and preparation. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has earned enough credibility to be taken at his word.
O’Connell Playing the Long Game
McCarthy has already missed three straight games since injuring his ankle Sept. 14 against the Falcons. The Vikings had hoped he would test the ankle this week at their temporary training site outside London. But wet conditions on Friday pushed O’Connell to shut him down.
That caution reflects how Minnesota has approached all major injuries under O’Connell. From Justin Jefferson’s hamstring to Kirk Cousins’ Achilles, the coach has consistently avoided rushing players back. A league-high 40 different quarterbacks are expected to start by the end of Week 5, a reminder of how fragile the position is. The Vikings are determined not to add to that chaos by mismanaging their rookie’s recovery.
There have been whispers that the team might be using the injury as cover after McCarthy’s uneven Week 2 performance against Atlanta. But Russini’s reporting makes clear the Vikings are not playing games. Multiple sources told her “nothing to see here,” emphasizing that McCarthy’s return is tied to the medical timeline and a requirement that he practices fully before being put back on the field. The target return date has been Week 7 against the Eagles, though there is no guarantee.
Wentz Bridges the Gap
Until then, Wentz remains the starter. In two games, he has completed 44 of 66 passes for 523 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. The veteran has stabilized the offense, but the context makes his job more difficult than the box score suggests.
Minnesota will play Sunday against Cleveland without four starting offensive linemen. Center Ryan Kelly (concussion), backup Michael Jurgens (hamstring), right tackle Brian O’Neill (knee), and left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist) are all out. That forces a major reshuffle: Blake Brandel will start at center despite never snapping in college or the NFL, rookie Joe Huber slides into left guard, and Justin Skule takes over at right tackle. It’s a patchwork unit tasked with blocking Myles Garrett and one of the league’s top defensive fronts.
Throwing McCarthy into that situation would be reckless. The 21-year-old needs stability and time, not a trial by fire behind an injury-depleted line. Wentz gives the Vikings a stopgap who can absorb the punishment while McCarthy heals and learns from the sideline.
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