Carson Wentz placed on injured reserve and will undergo shoulder surgery at the end of the season, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. Wentz has made five starts for the team this season. Vikings to replace starting guard JJ McCarthywho is expected to return to the lineup for this week's game against Detroit Lions.
Besides McCarthy, the Vikings' quarterback room consists of Max Brosmeran undrafted rookie who will now move up to second on the depth chart. Brosmer, who started last season for the Minnesota Gophers, has made three starts this season, completing 5 of 8 passes for 42 yards.
Wentz played with severe pain in his left (non-throwing) shoulder for more than half of his five starts. according to the Vikings website. The former Pro Bowl guard appeared to be in visibly pain during Minnesota's 37-10 loss to the team last game. Los Angeles Chargers that Wentz left before it was completed.
A 10-year veteran, Wentz won two of his first three starts for the Vikings, replacing McCarthy, who suffered a high ankle sprain in Minnesota's Week 2 loss to the Vikings. Falcons.
Wentz suffered a shoulder injury in the first half of the Vikings' Week 5 win. Browns in London. Despite the injury, Wentz remained in the game and eventually led the game-winning drive, in which he completed 9 of 9 passes while throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to Jordan Addison 25 seconds left.
Taking advantage of the Vikings' bye in Week 6 to rehab his injury, Wentz tried but failed to lead the Vikings to victories in their subsequent games against the Vikings. Eagles (his former team) and the Chargers. He begged Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell to stay in last week's game against the Chargers despite being sacked five times and clearly in pain.
Wentz did all he could, but now it's up to McCarthy to help turn the Vikings' season around. Minnesota is currently 3-4 and in last place in the NFC North.
What does this mean for Wentz's future?
Essentially, Wentz's Vikings career is likely over. He was brought in as emergency insurance and had a significant callout in a short period of time. But in dire circumstances he behaved unevenly, and in any case he was always a short-term band-aid. Only a flawless and nearly invincible victory could convince Vikings management to completely abandon the McCarthy experiment, which barely had time to get off the ground.
Moreover, Wentz's retirement due to injury could also mean the end of the quarterback's NFL career. This is largely a result of the physical wear and tear he endured behind Minnesota's shaky front. As imperfect as he was with the ball as Kevin O'Connell's point guard, he showed enough in his short tenure with the Vikings to warrant another backup job elsewhere. It's just that he's nearly 30 years old after a decade of service in the NFL, and he's suffered such a notable loss this year.
Considering he waited quite a while to get his last two backup appearances, it's possible that Wentz could decide he's tired of taking losses on the NFL stage. Again, his own dogged persistence is one of the reasons he suffered such serious shoulder injuries in the first place; perhaps his never-say-die mentality will be enough to force him to take his final opportunity in 2026.
What does this mean for the Vikings?
First, it highlights the cold reality that Minnesota is just wasn't ready to withstand such turmoil under the center. None of the franchise's individual quarterback decisions—letting Sam Darnold walk, refusing to go after Aaron Rodgers with full conviction, etc.—were egregious in and of themselves. But Wentz ended up being a sacrificial lamb of sorts due to McCarthy's unpreparedness.
What we don't talk about enough is… [Wentz was] The central conundrum for Minnesota is to rush McCarthy back or turn to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer? – despite the fact that they only joined the team on August 24th. Look, some defenders can turn around and help a franchise stay afloat with a few days' notice (see: Joe Flacco And Cincinnati Bengalsat least briefly). But the Bengals had Joe Burrow as Plan A. The Vikings had McCarthy, a complete unknown.
What's done is done. The Vikings made 2025 about McCarthy. And then McCarthy sped out of the gate before going down (again). It's no wonder they're struggling to get things under control at quarterback a few weeks later, not unlike midway through the 2023 season when Kirk Cousins ​​was sidelined and O'Connell had to squeeze everything he could out of him. Joshua Dobbsanother last minute backup addition and various leftovers.
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In practice, however, Wentz's injury history almost guarantees that McCarthy will return to the team sooner rather than later. A visit to Detroit to take on the vaunted Lions in Week 9 probably isn't the launch pad the Vikings had in mind for their injured sophomore, but again, things didn't go to plan at the position. McCarthy, meanwhile, could get a pass of sorts if he doesn't go down in his first game(s) back. But he will also be under significant pressure to excel in the 2025 campaign as the second year of his rookie contract quickly expires.
What if he can't stay on the field again? Brosmer, a former Golden Gophers prospect, could very well be the next name we discuss as the failed face of the Vikings offense.
