Kevin O’Connell Clears the Air on Vikings QB Situation
The Minnesota Vikings won’t have J.J. McCarthy this week at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s nursing a high ankle sprain.
The Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback situation is in flux, and the team’s head coach provided some details before Week 3.
The club will hand the baton to journeyman passer Carson Wentz, and thanks to Kevin O’Connell, fans now have clarity on the quarterback pecking order after Wentz.
Kevin O’Connell Adds Clarity to QB Strategy
It’s Wentz, foremost. Followed by Max Brosmer.
Carson Wentz as the Week 3 Starter
There is no mystery for this Sunday. Wentz is locked and loaded, starting for the Vikings against Jake Browning and friends.
Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday, ‘Excited for Carson to get a full week of preparation. I was telling the team today, you’ve got a guy that’s played at a really high level, played a lot of football, and ultimately is at a place in his career where I think you can really tap into a lot of that while also shaping a game plan that he’s comfortable with, and he can go out and have consistent success.”
Write it in ink that Wentz is “the guy” versus Cincinnati.
Max Brosmer as the Next Man Up
Pretend, like McCarthy, that Wentz gets hurt this weekend. Then what? It’s Max Brosmer‘s time, according to O’Connell.
“The way Max has been preparing, being two snaps away, will probably only be enhanced. There’s probably not much more room he can grow from a preparation standpoint, other than the physical reps that would come with it,” O’Connell told reporters.
There’s also the matter of Wentz’s performance. It’s a long shot, but if Wentz plays horribly in the first half and into the second, O’Connell could give Brosmer an audition.
In short, Brosmer is the QB2 on Sunday.
Desmond Ridder for Emergencies
Minnesota signed Ridder this week for emergency purposes.
O’Connell on Ridder: “With the rules being what they are with the emergency third quarterback, we wanted to have one. Based upon the early aspect of our season, we’re pretty deep into some position groupings as it is. We wanted to make sure we could get a guy that’s played before.”
“Desmond had a great workout. … If we get to that scenario, we felt like it would be good to have a veteran guy that’s still young and growing as a player, but can step in and execute if called upon.”
If the sky falls in Week 3, Ridder will see the lineup.
McCarthy in an Ankle Boot
All of this is on the menu because the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive front abused McCarthy in Week 2. McCarthy showed up in Eagan this week in a walking boot, optically and operationally ruling him out for Week 3.
Optimists claim the young passer could be ready for the Vikings’ two-game European trip next week. Others suspect a multiple-game absence.
It’s worth noting that McCarthy dodged injured reserve, meaning his absence should be less than four games.
CBS Sports’ Take on Wentz
Bryan DeArdo noted on Wentz this week: “When it comes to the past several seasons, Wentz said that he benefitted by getting to chance to play with and learn from some of the NFL’s best quarterbacks that includes the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes.”
“Wentz feels that those experiences will only benefit him on Sunday and moving forward. Regarding Sunday’s game against the Bengals, Wentz acknowledged he wishes the circumstances behind the situation were different. He went out of his way to praise McCarthy and how he is handling his latest setback.”
The Vikings probably must win two of their next three games before the brutal part of their schedule to remain afloat in 2025.
“Wentz is nonetheless looking forward to playing in a game ‘with real consequences’ for the first time since 2022, when he briefly served as Washington’s starting quarterback. While he obviously has different skill sets as compared to McCarthy, Wentz will work off the same menu of plays,” DeArdo added.
“Along with having a solid understanding of the game plan, Wentz’s confidence in his new teammates should also pay dividends for the Vikings, who are hoping to rebound following last Sunday’s 22-6 loss to Atlanta. Furthermore, the Vikings have all the confidence in Wentz to get the job done.”
First, Wentz. Then Brosmer if turmoil hits. Ridder in case of emergency. That’s the pecking order against the Bengals.
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