Enough Is Enough for Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz had to be scraped off the SoFi Stadium turf on Thursday night, and it should be the last time we see him quarterbacking the Minnesota Vikings. There is just no reason to keep going down that road at this point.
VikingsTerritory looks at the Vikings’ brutal performance on Thursday night and concludes that enough is enough for Carson Wentz as the Vikings’ starting quarterback.
It was a brutal night for the Vikings as they were battered from pillar to post in all phases of the game by the Los Angeles Chargers in a score of 37-10. Wentz came into the game with an injured left shoulder, and the news that right tackle Brian O’Neill would not play was soon followed by Christian Darrisaw leaving the game early.
Carson Wentz Must Exit Stage Left
The Minnesota offensive line, which had been decimated but was starting to get healthy, was destroyed once again. The Chargers’ defense smelled blood and came after the Vikings QB, and they got him, time and time again.
Wentz didn’t help himself; his inability to get the ball out quickly belies his veteran status indeed. Indeed, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer did a better job of it when he finally got in the game for the final drive. He should have come in earlier when the game was even somewhat in the balance to see what he could do under some real pleasure. Maybe that chance will come in Detroit, or maybe J.J. McCarthy will finally return. What nobody needs to see is a beaten-up Wentz out there again.
The Chargers mustered five sacks and an interception on the night, as the Vikings’ offense struggled all night. A failure to run the ball didn’t help matters. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason managed just a paltry 18 yards from nine carries.
That’s an embarrassing stat line.
Zavier Scott came in for the final drive and managed 16 yards from two carries. There were problems everywhere for Kevin O’Connell’s team, and this doesn’t look like a team about to reel off a bunch of wins against the Lions, Ravens, Packers, etc., with the QB who supposedly gave them the best chance to win now.
Will J.J. McCarthy Finally Return?
How long will the ongoing McCarthy saga continue? I can understand why there has been reluctance to rush him back from his ankle sprain, given how the Vikings’ OL has looked. If Darrisaw, O’Neill, and Ryan Kelly aren’t good to go next week, it would be like throwing the young QB to the Lions – literally, since Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah opted to spend the 10th overall pick of the 2024 draft on McCarthy.
Minnesota has played 25 games (including playoffs), and McCarthy has been deemed healthy to play in two of them. The Vikings’ head coach said post-game that McCarthy will play next week — if he’s healthy.
The pick couldn’t be going much worse at this point, and it’s an all too common theme for Adofo-Mensah draft picks. At some point, we need to see what he can do, and if he really still isn’t ready, it’s time to take a look at Brosmer.
This team doesn’t look capable of competing in an ultra-competitive NFC North division this season. The time to pick the bones out of the decisions that have led to that outcome will come, but first and foremost, decisions on the field should now be made with a long-term vision.
Not just at the QB position; it’s time for the team to ask itself whether it needs to see the likes of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen to continue struggling. When someone like Tyler Batty showed the hunger, desire, and violence you want from your defensive front when he finally got a chance. If this team continues to roll out all veterans and get beaten, questions should be asked.
If there is a shift in mindset toward future development, I can get behind that, accepting that immediate results are no longer the priority. That needs to start with McCarthy, ideally, but as unlikely as it is that Minnesota has found the next Brock Purdy, you don’t know until you try it, so it can be Brosmer too.
The Vikings have a lot to figure out, but they should do so without Wentz ever seeing the field again, unless in an absolute emergency.
You must be logged in to post a comment.