ESPN’s Adam Schefter Drops Vikings QB1 Hint for Week 8
Minnesota Vikings fans might have wait a day or two before learning who will be under center at QB1 this week, but according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the choice is fairly obvious: Carson Wentz.
Yet again, Vikings loyalists don’t know who will lead the team at QB1 on Thursday night, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter has a pretty good idea.
Wentz struggled tremendously on Sunday in a loss to his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles. If Schefter has it right, though, the Vikings will tab Wentz for one more start and his fifth of the season.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter Says Another Week of Carson Wentz for Vikings
And the crowd grumbled.
Carson Wentz Is the “Expectation” from Adam Schefter
Schefter joined The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, one day after Minnesota’s Week 7 loss, spilling his personal version of the beans on the Vikings’ evolving quarterback situation.
“My understanding is with Carson Wentz and J.J., the Vikings play a short week this week. They have the Chargers this week. I would expect that we get Carson Wentz on Thursday night. I was told there’s a chance that J.J. McCarthy would be ready for the week after, at Detroit,” Schefter told McAfee.
“Again, I think if Carson Wentz comes back and plays well and they win the game Thursday night, maybe that buys J.J. another week. If not, then I think J.J. could be back as soon as that week at Detroit.”
Most Vikings fans saw the announcement from Schefter about Wentz and, well, winced.
A Guaranteed Rollercoaster
The Wentz Experience is well-documented through four games.
He will accrue between 200 and 350 yards passing. Pretty good, right? Meh. He’s good for at least one turnover — probably more if the opposing defense is formidable. He’ll miss open wide receivers. The mobility from his 20s has vanished.
And if everything goes well on defense, and his running backs are creating explosive gains, Wentz will do just enough for Minnesota to prevail.
It’s a guaranteed rollercoaster with Wentz, mainly because of the clumsy turnovers, general mistakes, and missed open pass-catchers compile for a bittersweet three-hour viewing.
J.J. McCarthy in Week 9?
Schefter also hinted that McCarthy could return in Week 9 — also known as 13 days for now.
If so, the Vikings will have stretched the 4-6 weeks of an average high ankle sprain to the max. McCarthy injured the ankle on September 18th and November 2nd reemergence will indeed ensure his total recovery.
It’s just that McCarthy could be available this week, according to him. He told reporters that he would play if the decision were up to him, and while admitting that his ankle wasn’t 100% leading into Week 7, there’s a chance that Minnesota throws caution to the wind and rolls with their 22-year-old passer.
Wentz played terribly in Week 7, and with the season hanging in the balance, head coach Kevin O’Connell could pivot to McCarthy if Schefter has it wrong.
Chargers’ Defense in Rough Shape
Los Angeles’ defense surrendered 38 points to the upstart Indianapolis Colts in Week 7, the latest example of defensive futility for a club that appeared to have a hot shot group entering the regular season.
The Chargers rank 22nd leaguewide per defensive DVOA. For context, the Eagles are adjacent to the Vikings (PHI = 14th, MIN = 12th). In theory, whether Schefter is correct and Wentz gets the nod or McCarthy reclaims his job, Minnesota won’t face a killer defense in Week 8 — unless it abruptly hits a hot streak.
The Other Insider’s Perspective
Before the kickoff of Vikings-Eagles, NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport noted on the quarterback situation:
McCarthy also spent three days during the bye week working one-on-one with O’Connell and QB coach Josh McCown, aiming to accelerate his progress. After he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week following the season opener, McCarthy missed a Week 2 practice due to the birth of his son.
He then injured his ankle, sidelining him from more practice time and development. Keep in mind, O’Connell is a coach who said last year on The Rich Eisen Show, “I believe organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations.” So, why put McCarthy out on the field when he’s not there yet health-wise? It appears the whole world wants the Vikings to make a decision on their QB moving forward, while Minnesota is more focused on McCarthy’s development and when he’s ready — especially because he didn’t play as a rookie after suffering a preseason knee injury.
If Wentz wins this week, would it make sense to remove him as the starter for a healthy McCarthy? Coaches often roll with the hot hand. If that’s the case, McCarthy would simply wait and learn, while getting in some quality practice time. Meanwhile, the Vikings will go out Sunday and try to win a football game with Wentz starting.
With Wentz or McCarthy in the mix, the Vikings are expected to lose in Los Angeles by a field goal or so.
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