Vikings Name Their QB for Ireland Showdown
It didn’t take long for Kevin O’Connell to announce his Week 4 starter.
Minnesota heads to Dublin, Ireland, this weekend, and the team’s starting quarterback has already been announced.
With the Minnesota Vikings victorious over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 and sights set on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin this weekend, O’Connell didn’t hesitate to name his QB1 for the start of the European adventure: Carson Wentz.
Vikings to Roll with Wentz while J.J. McCarthy Recovers
A predictable move, it’s Wentz in Ireland.
Carson Wentz to Start in Dublin
After toppling the Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium, O’Connell informed the world that Wentz would take the QB1 baton in Week 4.
CBS Sports‘ Bryan DeArdo wrote, “A year after Sam Darnold enjoyed a career resurgence with the Vikings, Carson Wentz might be writing a similar story in Minnesota. Playing in place of injured starter J.J. McCarthy, Wentz threw two touchdowns in helping lead the Vikings to a 48-10 thumping of the visiting Bengals on Sunday.”
“The performance compelled Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell to say afterward that Wentz will get another opportunity to start when the Vikings face the Steelers next week in Ireland.”
And that’s that. There will be no QB1 mystery or debate for Week 4.
Cautious with J.J. McCarthy
True to Vikings form, the team’s leadership will not rush McCarthy back into the starting lineup. High ankle sprains are different from “normal” ankle sprains and take longer to heal. For example, Dallas Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb, often compared to Justin Jefferson, suffered the same injury on Sunday, and he’ll follow a similar timeline to McCarthy.
It’s important for McCarthy to get his snaps as the team’s signal-caller, but with Wentz performing at an average level or slightly above, Minnesota can remain competitive while the 22-year-old returns to full health.
The Game Manager Role
Wentz absolutely nailed the “game manager” role, sometimes a dreaded label, last weekend in the win over Cincinnati. He didn’t produce too many big-time throws; he also didn’t create clumsy and deadly turnovers.
The veteran quarterback merely drove the car, and Minnesota will request more of that transportation in Dublin and London.
Minnesota’s defense utterly swarmed and bashed the Bengals, and if the group continues that trend, Wentz won’t have to do much as a gunslinger, especially when running back Jordan Mason went over 100 rushing yards in Week 3 with 2 touchdowns to boot.
Wentz just has to steer.
The Ensuing Debate
Suppose Minnesota fires up three consecutive wins with Wentz at QB1. That arrangement would assuredly spark a debate, with a large faction of fans wondering why O’Connell would return to McCarthy if Wentz were the hot hand.
That debate has transpired through Vikings history pretty frequently, as backups always take over the offense and excel. A similar discussion feels like it’s on the horizon.
Some will want McCarthy to log his snaps above all else, focusing on his crucial first-season development. Others will endorse “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” suggesting Wentz as the beacon of winning continuity if the Europe trip trends the right way.
In fact, this is a hallmark of Minnesota football: the unsung quarterback plays well enough to drive the club toward the postseason until the gas runs out and Minnesota ultimately fails to win the Super Bowl because the fill-in passer wasn’t quite good enough.
The Sporting News on Wentz & McCarthy
Charlie Baduini from Sporting News noted on the purple team’s quarterback situation: “The Minnesota Vikings rebounded from a disappointing loss to the Atlanta Falcons last week, steamrolling the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals 48-10. Quarterback Carson Wentz performed admirably in place of injured starter J.J. McCarthy, completing 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns.”
“While the Vikings didn’t ask Wentz to do much, he managed the game well and led Minnesota to victory. With the former Michigan standout still on the mend from an ankle sprain, Wentz will have another playing opportunity in Dublin, Ireland, next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If he can guide the Vikings to another win, will there be a quarterback controversy in Minnesota? Outside of the fourth quarter of Week 1’s miraculous comeback over the Chicago Bears, McCarthy has not looked good in his first year as the Vikings’ starting quarterback.”
It’s worth noting that McCarthy very much played like a rookie in seven of his eight quarters of live regular-season action.
“The former Michigan star has as many touchdown passes (two) as Wentz through two games to go along with four turnovers. As the NFL’s youngest starting quarterback, it wouldn’t be outrageous for McCarthy to sit just a little bit longer and watch as a veteran prepares and performs weekly,” Baduini continued.
“Regardless, Wentz is not the future in Minnesota. McCarthy will have his chance again, but for a Vikings team that wants to win now, the backup might be the more viable option.”
Wentz on Sunday in Ireland, and probably again in London a week later. A question mark thereafter, with a likely return to McCarthy.
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