32-year-old Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz proved to be a gamer for Minnesota. Wentz fought through an excruciating injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder to keep the Vikings’ ship afloat with a 2-3 record. Now, J.J. McCarthy is ready to re-take the reins after his own injury (ankle).

It has been reported that Wentz suffered the injury way back in Week 5’s London game, when he exited briefly before guiding the team to a victory over Cleveland. The shoulder dislocation also resulted in a torn labrum and fractured the socket. Wentz donned a bulky harness to stabilize the shoulder in the following two losses to Philadelphia and the Chargers. During the Los Angeles game in particular, the quarterback was overcome with pain both between plays and on the bench. Still, Wentz fought through a hit-laden five-sack day, each further exacerbating the injury.

Second-year quarterback McCarthy was close to a return in Week 8, but the coaching staff elected to give his high-ankle sprain one more week of healing. He’s expected to return to the starting role this Sunday in Detroit for a divisional tilt with Jared Goff and the Lions. For his part, Carson Wentz bows out of 2025 and is headed to surgery on the shoulder. Presumably, a well-deserved date with the couch will soon follow.

Wentz fought through an injury to give Minnesota a fighting chance in 2025. He finished after starting five games (winning two) while posting a 65.1 completion percentage, 1,216 yards through the air (and 57 rushing) with six touchdowns.

The Minnesota offensive line will need to get its act together to protect its young signal-caller in McCarthy. The unit allowed an inexcusable 19 sacks of the veteran over five games and a total of 28 on the season, the fourth-most in the NFL.

Author: Samwise (@BuyAndSellYou)