A Central Part of the Vikings’ McCarthy Strategy Goes Up in Smoke
The Vikings’ McCarthy strategy has been robust, to say the least.
Reinforce the offensive line by hiring new players for the LG, C, and RG positions. Reinvigorate the running back spot by extending Aaron Jones and trading for Jordan Mason. Bring in pass catchers aplenty, going so far as to venture into a brutal overpay for Adam Thielen. All of this in the name of giving J.J. McCarthy all that he needs to succeed. What about the backup quarterback spot?
The Vikings’ McCarthy Strategy Takes a Hit
In losing Carson Wentz for the season, the Vikings see a key portion of the plan unravel.
Originally, Sam Howell was the plan. He’s younger, yes, but someone who played a decent amount while finding employment in Washington. In theory, Howell could have offered wisdom to first-time starter J.J. McCarthy while also being someone who could jump onto the field if there ended up being a need. Don’t miss that: the main backup needs to be both a mentor and a capable fill-in passer.
Leaning on Mr. Wentz therefore made a lot of sense.
The No. 2 selection from the 2016 NFL Draft has done much in his career. He has won a Super Bowl (albeit while injured) and been sent to the Pro Bowl. He has been a second-team All Pro, a third-place finisher for MVP, and someone who came in at fifth in Comeback Player of the Year voting. Just how important was that final detail — a quarterback who came back from injury — for piquing Minnesota’s interest?
The issue at this stage is that Wentz now needs time off due to the cruelty of the job he was tasked with performing. McCarthy wasn’t totally healthy and Max Brosmer not ready to be a starter. So, let the veteran step into danger to protect the young fellas from some combination of their own poor health and inexperience.
Consider the precise details of his injury, passed along by Ian Rapoport: “Details on Carson Wentz: In the first half of the London game, Wentz suffered a dislocation that tore his labrum and fractured the socket, per The Insiders. He gutted out 2.5 more games for the #Vikings with a big stabilizing brace, while JJ McCarthy (high-ankle) recovered.”
Further from the league insider: “Carson Wentz and his wife are expecting their 4th baby girl any day and then he’ll have surgery on his left shoulder. At 32, Wentz loves the game and wants to keep playing as long as possible.”
Continuing to play is likely once he returns to health. At this stage, there’s zero debate about Wentz’s toughness or willingness to sacrifice for his team. He is, in short, someone who has more than proved his mettle, so much so that one wonders why Minnesota didn’t step in to protect Wentz from himself.
J.J. McCarthy now moves ahead as the clear-cut, no-questions-asked starter (as things have been trending). Next up on the passer depth chart is Max Brosmer, the upside rookie who could now be a snap away. McCarthy thus needs a veteran to support him, functioning as a mentor who can push him during the week while decoding what a defense is doing to him during the game.
Wentz may well be a resource from a mental standpoint, but the physical component of the game isn’t there for Wentz any longer. Who is going to step into that job?
The Kirk Cousins truthers are going to be feasting on conjecture and speculation — reasonably? — now that there’s a need for an experienced voice who could keep the ship afloat. Low-end options such as Jaren Hall and Brett Rypien could be attainable, but both create questions about the ability to play strong ball. Maybe Desmond Ridder — who was on the Vikings’ roster prior to the bye — makes sense to look into re-adding. There previously was a workout for Dorian Thompson-Robinson, suggesting there’s at least some interest in the young arm.
Is anyone within that cluster of options going to find employment as the J.J. McCarthy backup? Do the Vikings look elsewhere? Quite possibly, there will be a need to settle for a less-than-ideal option, stitching together the needs behind the QB1 by leaning on Brosmer as the possible on-field fill-in while picking up a QB3 who can fulfill the experienced wisdom portion of things.
The Vikings’ McCarthy needs to start driving Minnesota toward wins. Best case is that he’s both healthy and capable of playing strong ball. Do so and there will be very little concern about the depth, or lack thereof. Failing to do these things — possibly as soon as Week 9 in Detroit — will mean that Minnesota begins working through a lost season, one that’s building for 2026 rather than trying to win in 2025.
J.J. McCarthy is 22.
