Vikings First Injury Report of Week 8 Is a Push

Carson Wentz warms up before the Vikings’ home game against the Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) prepared for action on Oct. 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, warming up ahead of the matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium. Facing his former team, Wentz moved through pregame drills with focus as fans filled the stands for the high-profile showdown featuring his return against one of the NFC’s toughest defenses. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings must expedite all processes this week, as they prepare for Thursday Night Football in Los Angeles. And according to Monday’s injury report, the quarterback spot featured a shared designation: a limited practice for J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz.

It’s the Los Angeles Chargers for the Minnesota Vikings this week, and Monday’s makeshift injury report featured a push at the quarterback spot.

Wentz is the frontrunner to start for a fifth consecutive game, but there’s a small chance that McCarthy could be ready after five weeks on the shelf with a high ankle sprain.

Vikings Injury Report = J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz Limited

Another quarterback mystery for the purple team.

Carson Wentz throws a touchdown pass over B.J. Hill during the Vikings’ win over the Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) launched a touchdown pass over Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill (92) on Sept. 21, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the third quarter of the Week 3 matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium. The play highlighted Wentz’s timing and accuracy as Minnesota rolled to a dominant 48-10 victory in front of a raucous home crowd. © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Carson Wentz Banged Up; Practice Is Limited

The Vikings, of course, have a short week due to TNF, so official practices began on Monday instead of Wednesday.

NBC Sports’ Charean Williams wrote, “J.J. McCarthy was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 and missed all nine practices from Weeks 3-5. He returned to practice last week after the team’s off week and was limited all three days. It seems likely that Carson Wentz will start again this week since it’s a short week. Wentz (left shoulder) also was estimated as limited on Monday.”

The practice wasn’t as formal as usual because the team had played a game the day before, but the estimation was that Wentz was limited after some wear and tear during the Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, where the veteran passer played pretty terribly.

McCarthy Nears Return Date with Limited Practice

Williams added on McCarthy, “J.J. McCarthy acknowledged late last week that his injured right ankle still isn’t fully healed. Monday’s practice report indicates he’s still not at 100 percent. The Vikings didn’t practice but estimated McCarthy as limited as the team began its preparations for Thursday Night Football.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell has stated for a few weeks that McCarthy must a) be fully healthy to return under center at his QB1 spot, b) log a whole week of practice before getting the green light.

It’s unclear if O’Connell will loosen his criteria after Wentz’s mistake-riddled performance in Week 7.

Local Writers Hint at Wentz for Week 8

O’Connell will name a starter soon, but according to those who follow the team on the ground daily, Wentz, once again in Los Angeles, is the tentative expectation.

J.J. McCarthy watches from the sideline during the Vikings’ preseason game against the Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) stood on the sideline on Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during second-quarter action of the preseason game against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The rookie passer’s calm demeanor drew notice as he observed offensive adjustments and absorbed in-game lessons, reflecting steady progress in his first NFL summer. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Star Tribune‘s Andrew Krammer and Ben Goessling collectively agreed on the Access Vikings podcast that Wentz is likely to start on Thursday night, paving the way for his fifth start in a row while McCarthy heals in totality, probably for Week 9 at the Detroit Lions.

Others, like ESPN’s Adam Schefter, have echoed the sentiments of Krammer and Goessling, merely assuming that Wentz will get the nod one more time because it’s a short week and McCarthy is reportedly nearing 100% but not all the way there.

A Verdict as Early as Tuesday

Thankfully, for those ultra-curious about the Week 8 quarterback plan, time is of the essence. In a typical week, O’Connell could evaluate Wentz and McCarthy and render a verdict on Friday. But with Thursday Night Football just two days away, he’ll probably provide a blunt-force announcement on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.

If McCarthy gets the call — returning to the lineup for the first time since a repugnant Week 2 showing — he’ll face his college coach, Jim Harbaugh, a man he won a National Championship with in 2023.

Otherwise, The Wentz Train will ride again, likely featuring bumps, bruises, and a few sweet plays.

The Max Brosmer Theory

Meanwhile, the Vikings, in theory, could give undrafted rookie Max Brosmer a look on Thursday, according to Newsweek‘s Max Dible.

Dible wrote Monday, “Both Wentz and McCarthy have less time than they normally would to get healthy and prepare for what has been a solid Chargers defense to this point in the year, despite the Indianapolis Colts blowing them up for 38 points on Sunday.”

“Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is among those coaches expected to get real consideration in next year’s head-coaching cycle, and his propensity for confusing young QBs is well known across the NFL. That said, the New York Giants ran out rookie Jaxson Dart against Minter and the Chargers in Week 4, and Dart earned a victory in the first start of his professional career.”

Max Brosmer tosses a touchdown during fourth-quarter preseason play against the Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer (12) delivered a touchdown strike on Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during fourth-quarter preseason action against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The rookie’s late scoring throw capped a productive offensive drive, providing valuable film for coaches and a confidence boost as Brosmer continued to compete for a roster role. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

He then delivered the Brosmer idea, “It was still more the Giants defense that deserved credit for that three-point win (21-18), as Dart completed 13 of 20 passes for 111 yards and one touchdown, while Los Angeles sacked him five times. Dart’s saving grace in that game was his ability to run the football, which he did 10 times for 54 yards and a score. Brosmer played well in the preseason, but he doesn’t possess the ground game that Dart does.”

“However, Minnesota has superior pass-catchers to the Giants in wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, as well as tight end T.J. Hockenson, who could help Max Brosmer against a talented defense and confusing scheme in his first real NFL action.”

So, it’ll either be Wentz hoping to shake off the persistent cobwebs of a gaffe-happy Week 7 game, McCarthy against Harbaugh, or Brosmer’s first NFL start. Choose your fighter.


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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His debut thriller, The Motor Route , is out now. He ... More about Dustin Baker