Outrage over Carson Wentz Injury Is Ridiculous
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz played through a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder during the last few weeks, and somehow, some have interpreted that injury as a broken leg, torn ACL, or missing hand.
There’s always something to be mad about for some, and the injury to Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz is the latest installment this week.
The problem? Playing through a labrum injury in the “other” shoulder is not uncommon for a quarterback in football or a pitcher in baseball. It’s just that some sections of the Vikings fan base decided, on their own, that Wentz doing so was totally heinous and a vehicle of malfeasance.
Carson Wentz Played Through Pain Per His Wishes
It’s fair to be upset about the Vikings losing a couple of games, but outrage culture over Wentz’s shoulder is bizarre.
Vikings Fans Falsely Equate Wentz’s Injury to Diabolical Plot
Because Wentz told the coaching and training staff he could play through pain, some have used his “warrior” mentality to skewer Kevin O’Connell and his lieutenants.
An aggregator on X, The Purple Persuasion, tweeted Monday, “The more that comes out on this Carson Wentz fiasco is absolutely wild. The way this was handled is the complete opposite of the ‘culture’ that Kevin O’Connell preaches continually over the years. Not only that, there’s the question about Max Brosmer. Either O’Connell knows he’s complete @ss or he was scared of his success. Makes absolutely no sense and that’s when questions need asked.”
Over 300,000 people viewed the tweet, and a portion of that crowd now believes that Minnesota sabotaged Wentz on purpose. Others, of course, piled on and authored similar tweets of outrage.
The Baker Mayfield Example
In 2021, during his final season with the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield played an entire season with Wentz’s injury — a torn labrum.
The outrage that season? Nothing. Nobody cared.
Mayfield was called gutsy, while his production dipped, and Cleveland later dropped him like a bad habit in favor of the now-failed Deshaun Watson experiment, trade, and debacle.
Derek Carr played through the same injury in 2017. So did Tony Romo in 2015.
This is not an unprecedented, supernatural, or mind-boggling circumstance. Players play through pain with this specific injury. It’s just that Vikings fans have treated it like Cam Skattebo’s injury last week, when the man’s ankle bent the wrong direction. Wentz’s injury wasn’t like that. Not by a mile.
Ben Leber on the Ordeal
Former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber was quick to explain Wentz’s situation on social media.
He tweeted, “Regarding the Wentz injury: Players are always playing through injury and we accept it’s part of the job, sometimes the worse the injury the greater the badge of honor from teammates. Zero chance Wentz was FORCED to play. I’m confident he knew the full extent of his injury and he chose to play. No shenanigans here.”
Leber is not a liar, and in fact, is known as one of the top “standup guys” in the Vikings’ media orbit. He wouldn’t tweet some big falsehood.
The Guy Went Out on His Terms
Let’s face it: Wentz knew what was going on. His career is on the back nine. He knew he was doing the Vikings a service by playing quarterback while McCarthy healed. He repeatedly told coaches and trainers that he was “good to go” with an injury that would not become structurally worse if he played. It’s why throwers of balls play through this injury.
After the game, Wentz spoke to reporters and oddly seemed happy — or at least at peace. He actually had the body language of a quarterback whose team just won the game, not lost it.
Wentz was a boxer who wanted to go out on the mat, and that’s precisely what he did.
If there is anything — anything at all to take issue with — it’s that football is a violent game. That’s it.
CBS Sports on Wentz
Bryan DeArdo and Cody Benjamin on the Vikings’ injured passer: “For all intents and purposes, Wentz’s Vikings career is probably a wrap. He was brought in as emergency insurance, and he was called upon to a great degree in a short amount of time. But he was uneven in dire circumstances, and he was always going to be a short-term Band-Aid anyway.”
“Only a flawless and near-undefeated run would’ve convinced Vikings brass to pivot all the way off the McCarthy experiment, which has hardly left the ground. More than that, Wentz’s injury-fueled exit may also spell the end of the quarterback’s NFL career. That’s mostly a result of the physical wear and tear he suffered behind Minnesota’s shaky front.”
Wentz actually created his own folklore; all fans will remember him with high regard. Tough SOB.
DeArdo and Benjamin added, “Imperfect as he may have been handling the ball as Kevin O’Connell’s point guard, he showed enough in his brief Vikings tenure to warrant another backup gig somewhere else. It’s just that he’s also nearing his mid-30s after a decade of NFL service and took such a visible toll this year.”
“Considering he waited quite a while to land his last two backup gigs, it’s possible Wentz could decide that he’s had his fill of taking a beating on the NFL stage. Then again, his own rugged persistence is part of the reason he suffered such serious shoulder injuries at all; maybe his never-say-die mentality will be enough to have him angling for one last opportunity in 2026.”
Wentz will turn 33 in December.
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