Vikings Submitted Daniel Jones Better Offer Than Colts
Completing one of the more stunning first halves in recent NFL history, the Colts enter Week 9 an NFL-best 7-1. Their offense has rolled to a historic modern-era point, scoring more points through eight games than any post-merger team in franchise history. At the center of this surprising charge: Daniel Jones, who needed to beat out Anthony Richardson for the starting job.
Richardson is now on IR, and Jones’ performance through eight games both showed no indication the QB competition would be revisited and has rocketed the Colts’ enduring core back to relevance. Jones chose the Colts over the Vikings in free agency, and Minnesota has seen its QB quality drop significantly after also letting Sam Darnold walk. While the Vikes did not aggressively pursue a second Darnold contract, The Athletic’s Michael Silver notes they did expect to re-sign Jones as J.J. McCarthy insurance.
At the time the Colts signed Jones to a one-year, $14MM contract, it was known the Vikings made an offer to keep the QB — one they mostly employed as a practice squad stash late last season (Jones was not even the backup in the Vikings’ playoff game). However, Silver reports the Vikings made a bigger offer — one that topped the $13.15MM guarantee in the Colts’ proposal.
Shortly before the legal tampering period, we heard the Colts were preparing to enter the Jones market. Jones faceplanting on his four-year, $160MM Giants deal naturally did not lead to a multiyear guarantee. But the market for his “prove it” deal did escalate. Jones, 28, determined his best chance to see immediate action came in Indianapolis. Being in the building as the Vikings were grooming McCarthy, Jones correctly surmised he had a better chance to unseat Richardson than delay McCarthy’s ascent.
Jones went so far as to communicate to the Vikings, per Silver, Kevin O’Connell‘s presence creating a QB-friendly infrastructure would lead to McCarthy succeeding — and thus little chance for the veteran free agent to block his path. The Vikings continued down this road with Aaron Rodgers, who almost definitely would have blocked McCarthy’s route to the lineup.
Rodgers expressed interest in joining O’Connell in Minnesota, pegging the Vikings as his preferred destination. But he ended up in Pittsburgh, forming a partnership in which neither side received its desired outcome (the Steelers had wanted to either re-sign Justin Fields or trade for Matthew Stafford over signing Rodgers).
With Jones committed to Indianapolis, Minnesota traded for Sam Howell during the draft and signed Max Brosmer as a UDFA. Howell’s struggles in camp led to the Vikings trading him to the Eagles and then signing Carson Wentz. The Wentz experiment is over, as the QB nomad is out for the season with a shoulder injury, while Brosmer is still being prioritized as Minnesota’s QB2.
Entering the season as the Vikings’ third-stringer, Brosmer (per Silver) drew some internal Brock Purdy comps. It is obviously too early there, but Purdy did impress as a 49ers third-stringer behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo in 2022 — before injuries opened the door to the starting job. Brosmer is now one injury away, and while McCarthy is returning in Week 9, the former top-10 pick has already suffered two notable maladies since entering the NFL.
Prior to the 2024 draft, Vikings ownership was believed to be pushing for a young quarterback who could keep the role long term. This offseason, Silver adds the Mark and Zygi Wilf remain committed to seeing if McCarthy can be that long-term answer.
The Vikings did roster Kirk Cousins for six years but had not had much luck through the draft since 1999 first-rounder Daunte Culpepper. The former standout’s severe knee injury — sustained shortly after the Wilfs bought the team — in 2005 wrecked his Twin Cities stay, leading to a slew of veterans. Teddy Bridgewater‘s injury-marred stay interrupted this, and McCarthy’s meniscus tear last year reminded of some unfortunate knee-related setbacks for Minnesota QBs. The Vikings will now hope McCarthy can prove O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah right for passing on franchise-tagging Darnold or signing Rodgers.
The Jones offer does show some degree of hesitancy with McCarthy this year, as the Vikings offered more than they paid Darnold in 2024 (one year, $10MM). Jones is flourishing in Indy, sitting third in QBR during a bounce-back season. The Colts, whose QB carousel has spun much faster than the Vikings’ in recent years, are interested in extending him. The Vikings reside as an interesting “what if?” for the former first-round quarterback.
J.J. McCarthy To Return In Week 9; Vikings Signing QB John Wolford
Carson Wentz played through a significant injury in his non-throwing shoulder during much of his time filling in for J.J. McCarthy. The veteran will undergo season-ending surgery to repair the damage, but Minnesota’s starter is now in position to return to action. 
McCarthy will spend the coming days preparing for Week 9 with the starters, head coach Kevin O’Connell said (via Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune). An ankle sprain has kept the 2024 first-rounder out of the lineup since he was injured in Week 2. McCarthy was on track to resume QB1 duties when healthy in any case, but especially with Wentz now sidelined his return will be welcomed by the team.
While recovering from meniscus surgery, McCarthy missed his entire rookie campaign. Expectations were nevertheless high for the former college national champion entering the season, one which largely did not go to plan prior to the injury. McCarthy’s ability to deliver consistent play under center presuming he can remain healthy the rest of the way will be critical for a Vikings team which finds itself last in the NFC North.
The 22-year-old was a full participant in today’s practice, a positive sign he will be able to play in Week 9 as hoped. Minnesota (3-4) ranks 18th in the NFL in scoring and the team’s defense has regressed compared to last season. A boost in terms of quarterback play would be critical to the Vikings’ playoff chances but McCarthy is far from a known commodity at this point in his career. Another inexperienced signal-caller (undrafted rookie Max Brosmer) will serve as the team’s backup the rest of the way.
As for the third-string role, a deal has been lined up in time for Week 9. John Wolford is being signed to the practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 30-year-old has made seven regular season appearances in the NFL, each of which came during a three-year span as a member of the Rams. Wolford and O’Connell overlapped with each other in Los Angeles, and a midseason reunion has now been worked out in Minnesota. This pact will provide the Vikings with a veteran presence on the depth chart in the event McCarthy or Brosmer miss time.
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy To Start When Healthy; Week 9 Return Being Targeted
Carson Wentz handled quarterback duties once again during the Vikings’ lopsided loss on Thursday. By the time Minnesota plays again, though, J.J. McCarthy may be back in the fold. 
McCarthy has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury in Week 2. The 2024 first-rounder has dressed as the Vikings’ emergency No. 3 quarterback in each of the past two games, a further sign he is nearing a return to full health. That could be the case in time for Week 9. When McCarthy is back at full strength, he will return to QB1 duties.
“If J.J. is healthy, J.J. will play,” head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed after yesterday’s game (via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert). “That’s been the case since the injury. That’s always been kind of my mindset, and I believe we’re right — hopefully — around the corner from seeing him be healthy, have a week of preparation and go compete.”
With Minnesota having played on a Thursday, the team now has an extended period to prepare for Week 9. The Vikings will take on the Lions in their next contest, and having McCarthy available would of course be a welcomed development for the team’s offense in the short term and his ability to continue developing over the remainder of the season. McCarthy, 22, missed his entire rookie campaign while recovering from meniscus surgery before his current stretch of absences due to a high ankle sprain.
Aside from his fourth-quarter performance against the Bears in Week 1, McCarthy has not met expectations when on the field so far. Improving on his early showings once healthy will be critical for the Michigan product’s long-term development and Minnesota’s playoff chances. The Vikings sit at 3-4 on the year at a time when each of the NFC North’s other teams sport a winning record.
Last night’s game was the latest example of the “significant left shoulder injury” Wentz has been playing through for most his five-game run as the team’s starter. The 32-year-old said (via Seifert) Thursday’s performance included “quite possibly” the most pain he has played through in an NFL contest. Wentz will have time to heal provided McCarthy starts in Week 9, however, something which looks to be the team’s plan at this point.
Carson Wentz To Start Week 8; J.J. McCarthy Progressing
With Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy continuing to deal with a high ankle sprain, Carson Wentz will make his fifth straight start in Week 8. Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Wentz will be under center on Thursday against the Chargers (via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network).
McCarthy, who last played in a Week 2 loss to the Falcons, has made encouraging progress in his recovery. However, after McCarthy went through an on-field workout on Tuesday, O’Connell said “he’s just not there” (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). He’ll serve as the team’s emergency No. 3 option this week behind Wentz and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer.
This could end up as Wentz’s last chance to retain the starting job, as O’Connell noted that McCarthy may have been ready to go on a normal week (via Pelissero). With a quick turnaround from last Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, the Vikings are left to rely on a bounce-back effort from Wentz on Thursday.
A late-August addition in free agency, the well-traveled Wentz has been hit and miss during his four starts. While Wentz has twice posted a passer rating upward of 102.0, he has tossed two interceptions in each of his other two starts. Overall, Wentz has completed 95 of 142 passes (66.9%) for 1,072 yards, five touchdowns, and four picks. The team has gone 2-2 with him at the helm.
McCarthy, the 10th overall pick from Michigan in 2024, missed his entire rookie year after tearing his right meniscus during preseason. While McCarthy entered this season as Minnesota’s unquestioned No. 1 signal-caller, he went just 24 for 41 (58.5%) with 301 yards, two TDs, and three INTs in his first two starts before suffering another injury.
Thanks in part to underwhelming play from their QBs, the 3-3 Vikings have already matched their loss total from a surprising 14-win campaign in 2024. Sam Darnold, brought in as a stopgap in front of McCarthy, unexpectedly enjoyed a breakout year during his lone season with the Vikings. With the Vikings committed to McCarthy, Darnold parlayed his successful 2024 into a sizable free agent deal with the Seahawks last March. The Vikings also lost backup Daniel Jones on the open market. Jones left for a chance at more playing time in Indianapolis, which has worked out swimmingly for him and the first-place Colts.
While Darnold and Jones have thrived elsewhere, it’s far too soon to pass judgment on McCarthy. It seems that McCarthy is getting closer to returning to the Vikings’ lineup, though O’Connell has been adamant that he won’t take the reins again until he’s fully healthy. In the meantime, Wentz will have another shot to make a case to remain Minnesota’s starter.
Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell Will Not Name QB1 Until J.J. McCarthy Is 100%
Carson Wentz will serve as the Vikings’ starting quarterback again in Week 7, as presumptive QB1 J.J. McCarthy is still dealing with a high ankle sprain that has kept him on the sidelines since Week 3. Head coach Kevin O’Connell previously stopped short of confirming McCarthy would be back in the starting lineup when he is fully healthy, and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reiterates O’Connell will continue his wait-and-see approach (video link).
While making clear that McCarthy is not yet recovered from the ankle injury – meaning the Vikes are not overstating the ailment to allow the second-year passer to save face – Rapoport says O’Connell will not make a true Wentz-or-McCarthy decision until McCarthy is 100%. And it is certainly possible that Wentz forces O’Connell’s hand.
McCarthy has underwhelmed in seven of the eight quarters he has played in 2025. That is perhaps not surprising given that the 2024 first-rounder missed his entire rookie campaign because of a knee injury and then practiced just one time after Minnesota’s Week 1 victory this year due to the birth of his son (h/t Rapoport). Considering the Vikings’ investment in him and obvious faith in his abilities – despite his lost rookie season, the team allowed both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones to depart in free agency – they obviously want to give him every opportunity to succeed.
On the other hand, Minnesota is 3-2 and has postseason aspirations after narrowly missing out on the NFC’s No. 1 seed last year. Wentz, a 10-year veteran with 97 starts to his name, has played reasonably well in relief of his younger counterpart, guiding the club to a 2-1 record during his three games at the helm (he came up just short of a comeback victory in the one loss and posted quarterback ratings of 102.1 and 129.8 in the two wins).
Per Rapoport, McCarthy’s injury is also likely to force him out of the team’s Week 8 game with the Chargers, a Thursday night affair that will take place shortly after Sunday’s Week 7 matchup against the Eagles. Both of those will be difficult games, and if Wentz struggles, O’Connell should have no trouble reinserting McCarthy.
But if Wentz leads the Vikings to wins and runs his personal record to 4-1 this season, Rapoport thinks O’Connell will keep him atop the depth chart, irrespective of McCarthy’s health.
Vikings To Start Carson Wentz Vs. Eagles
The Carson Wentz revenge game is officially happening.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Wentz will start on Sunday against the Eagles, his former team. The Eagles traded up to draft Wentz with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft with the hopes that he would be their long-term franchise quarterback.
It didn’t quite work out that way. Wentz struggled as a rookie before a breakout 2017 season that was cut short by an ACL tear. The Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl with Nick Foles under center. Injuries remained an issue for Wentz, though the team still signed him to a four-year, $108MM extension in 2019. By the end of the next season, he was benched for Jalen Hurts, and during the offseason, he was traded to the Colts. That kicked off a series of one-year stints with the Commanders, Rams, and Chiefs before signing with the Vikings this offseason.
O’Connell has repeatedly made it clear that J.J. McCarthy will be the Vikings’ starting quarterback when he’s fully healthy, but that has not been the case for weeks. Wentz started the last two games, and though he picked up a shoulder injury last week, he will be under center once again on Sunday.
McCarthy has still been limited in practice this week as he works his way back from an ankle injury, but O’Connell said that the second-year quarterback will be active as the Vikings’ emergency third quarterback in Week 7, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. Max Brosmer will still be the team’s primary backup, but O’Connell indicated that he was comfortable with McCarthy taking the field in an emergency.
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy Returns To Practice; Carson Wentz Dealing With Shoulder Injury
The Vikings are currently on their bye after two straight overseas games. It remains to be seen what their quarterback situation will be for Week 7, but J.J. McCarthy is making strides toward a return.
Minnesota’s 2025 starter took part in practice Monday. That development came after McCarthy was sidelined through each of the past three weeks due to a high ankle sprain. The Vikings have not rushed the 2024 first-rounder back onto the field, relying on Wentz to handle starting duties in Week 3 as well as both of their international contests. With McCarthy participating in practice, though, he could be in line to return in time for Week 7.
“J.J. got some work today, and he’ll get some work the rest of the week,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said (via Emily Leiker of the Minnesota Star Tribune). “We’ll pick it up officially next week, but I’m encouraged about where he’s at right now.”
McCarthy missed his entire rookie campaign while recovering from meniscus surgery, but he was the Vikings’ unquestioned QB1 entering this season. His first action atop the depth chart did not go according to plan, aside from a strong fourth quarter in Week 1. That no doubt played a role in O’Connell declining to conclusively state McCarthy will reprise his role as starter once he is fully healed. By next week, though, Wentz may not be in position to play even if that were to be the team’s presence.
Wentz injured his left (that is, non-throwing) shoulder during Minnesota’s comeback win against the Browns on Sunday. O’Connell noted the 32-year-old was “pretty sore” upon returning from London. The coming days will be key in evaluating his status for Week 7. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings proceed at the quarterback spot if both McCarthy and Wentz are available by that point.
Minnesota sits at 3-2 on the year and a stable run of play from the quarterback spot will be key in determining if another playoff berth proves to be attainable. The team’s long-term plans will of course depend largely on McCarthy’s development, a process which could resume as early as Week 7 against the Eagles.
Vikings Place C Ryan Kelly On IR; J.J. McCarthy Uncertain For Week 7
The Vikings continue to be burdened with injuries in 2025. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network was the first to report today that Vikings center Ryan Kelly will be placed on injured reserve. The team’s official announcement shows that Minnesota will be getting a body back from IR, though, as it activates fullback C.J. Ham. 
Kelly is in his first season with the Vikings after spending the first nine years of his career with the Colts. The four-time Pro Bowler will miss the next four games after suffering his second concussion in three weeks. Kelly is no stranger to injuries; he’s only ever played in every game of the regular season three times in his career, most recently missing seven games last year.
Surgery for a broken bone in his Kelly’s foot sidelined him for the first four games of his second year in the league, and after he returned for seven games, a concussion sidelined him for the remainder of that year. Since then, recurrent concussions and neck injuries saw him frequent the sideline for a couple weeks each year. Last season, he added a knee injury to his list of ailments, causing a stay on IR as he recovered from surgery.
Minnesota decided to look past his extensive injury history when signing him because Kelly has routinely performed as one of the better, more consistent centers in the league. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Kelly was playing some of the best football of his career for the Vikings this season before landing on the injured list.
Kelly becomes the third offensive lineman, the sixth offensive player, and the eighth overall player to land on IR from the Vikings’ roster. To make matter worse, starting right tackle Brian O’Neill, starting left guard Donovan Jackson, and backup center Michael Jurgens have all been ruled out for this weekend on the team’s injury report, leaving only left tackle Christian Darrisaw and right guard Will Fries as the last starters standing in front of backup quarterback Carson Wentz, who is starting with J.J. McCarthy ruled out, as well.
Blake Brandel, who started every game for Minnesota at left guard last year, filled in for Jackson last week, but the team’s depth chart has him listed as the third option at center behind Kelly and Jurgens. Justin Skule is listed as the primary backup for both tackle spots, and Joe Huber and Walter Rouse were the only other remaining healthy backups on the 53-man roster before today’s transactions.
The Vikings waived quarterback Desmond Ridder in order to sign practice squad rookie offensive lineman Vershon Lee to the 53-man roster. Lee adds incredible versatility to the offensive line after starting 40 games at three different positions in college at South Carolina — 18 at center, 16 at left guard, and six at right tackle. He finished his career as a center and could be an option if the team wants to keep Brandel at left guard.
The team also used one of its two standard gameday practice squad elevations to call up guard Henry Byrd, who appeared in his first career game earlier this season after going undrafted in 2023. The other elevation was utilized to call up running back Cam Akers, as usual starter Aaron Jones is one of the six offensive players on IR.
The team cutting Ridder comes as a bit of a surprise considering some of the rumors surrounding McCarthy this weekend. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, sources have relayed that “McCarthy isn’t healthy, and while the target return has been Week 7 against the Eagles, it could still be longer.” This follows rumors that Minnesota may be using the injury to keep McCarthy off the field for a bit after they watched him struggle more than expected in his first two NFL games, arguing that the extra time could help him prepare a bit more for a return to play.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has been extremely clear about the conditions for McCarthy’s return, though, saying that the second-year passer “won’t play until he’s had a full week of practice.” Since exiting Week 2 with an injury, he hasn’t yet practiced in any capacity. Still, O’Connell asserts that once his young quarterback is healthy, he’ll return to his starting role. With McCarthy still out and Ridder off the team, undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer stands as the only remaining quarterback on the roster to back up Wentz.
Despite a lot of tough news, the Vikings will see Ham return to the field. The two-time Pro Bowl fullback missed the start of the season with a knee injury. He’ll return to an offensive backfield that looks a bit different without the starting quarterback and running back.
J.J. McCarthy Could Practice This Week; Vikings RT Brian O’Neill Sprains MCL
After missing back-to-back games, Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy appears to be making progress in his recovery from a high ankle sprain. The Vikings are hopeful that the second-year man will log some practice time this week, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Early last week, O’Connell emphasized the importance of McCarthy receiving an ample amount of practice work before he regains his role as the team’s starter. Having invested the 10th overall pick in 2024 on McCarthy, who didn’t play at all as a rookie after tearing the meniscus in his right knee during the preseason, the Vikings are taking a careful approach with the former Michigan Wolverine.
Minnesota has gone 1-1 with McCarthy fill-in Carson Wentz, a late-August addition who has amassed 96 starts since the Eagles chose him second overall in the 2016 draft. Now a 32-year-old journeyman, Wentz could remain at the helm for the second leg of the Vikings’ European tour this week. Wentz has completed 44 of 66 passes for 523 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions thus far. He and the Vikings dropped a 24-21 decision to the Steelers in Dublin in Week 4, falling to 2-2 on the season.
The Vikings are now gearing up to take on the 1-3 Browns on Sunday in London on Sunday. If McCarthy isn’t under center, a bye after the Cleveland game could set him up to return for a Week 7 showdown with the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles.
McCarthy, 22, has struggled early on, though. He has connected on 24 of 41 passes for 301 yards, two scores, and three picks. McCarthy looked good during a second-half comeback against the Bears in Week 1, but he didn’t fare well early in the game and turned in a rough showing in a loss to the Falcons in Week 2. With that in mind, if Wentz plays this week, he could make an argument to retain the starting job with an impressive performance against Cleveland.
Regardless of who’s at QB for Minnesota, he won’t have right tackle Brian O’Neill as a protector on Sunday. O’Connell announced that O’Neill is week-to-week with an MCL sprain, though the upper-crust RT will not require surgery or go on IR.
A career-long Viking since entering the league as a second-rounder in 2018, the 30-year-old has picked up 110 starts and two Pro Bowl nods. O’Neill represents a substantial loss for the Vikings, who are also without left guard Donovan Jackson after he underwent wrist surgery last week. Worsening matters, Minnesota saw center Ryan Kelly suffer a concussion in its loss to Pittsburgh, helping the Steelers tee off on Wentz for six sacks.
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy To Miss Week 4; Latest On QB’s Path Back To Starting Job
The Vikings used a turnover spree to wallop the Bengals in a matchup of backup quarterbacks. Minnesota’s relief option will receive at least one more start, with Kevin O’Connell confirming Carson Wentz will be at the controls for the Vikings’ Ireland game against the Steelers.
While no ambiguity regarding J.J. McCarthy‘s Week 4 status is coming, the fourth-year Minnesota HC did not confirm McCarthy would be back at the controls when he is healthy enough to play. The Vikings want their second-year quarterback, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain, to have a full runup in practice before he is reinserted.
“First and foremost, he’s got to get healthy. And then, I don’t think it’s one of those things where it’s, hey, he’s healthy the night before a game, we’re going to throw him out there and say, ‘Hey, go figure it out’ type of thing,” O’Connell said, via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert.
“I think we saw, as phenomenal as he was getting prepared for the Atlanta game, he did miss practice that week. And when you’re in the phase of building up the 10,000 reps and 10,000 hours of what it takes to play the position at a very high level, which we know J.J. McCarthy is going to do, you can’t cut corners on that. And that also doesn’t require an answer on that question today.”
This stance will allow the Vikings to delay an answer here. The team’s definitive response will help define its season. The Vikings cleared the runway for McCarthy this offseason, passing on a Sam Darnold franchise tag and letting Daniel Jones walk in free agency. Minnesota did make an offer to the current Colts starter, but the short-lived Vikings practice squad arm viewed Indianapolis as a better opportunity to start. The Vikings then passed on Sunday foe Aaron Rodgers, who had wanted to join O’Connell and Justin Jefferson in what would have been a high-profile bridge setup. These moves gave McCarthy a clear path to the starting role he was in line to push Darnold for — before his season-ending meniscus injury — at some point in 2024.
Although McCarthy flashed during a comeback win over the Bears, he struggled during a listless Week 2 loss. McCarthy threw two interceptions and took six sacks against Atlanta. McCarthy finished with the second-lowest QBR in Week 2. Wentz benefited from the Bengals’ five turnovers Sunday but was 14 of 20 for 173 yards and two touchdown passes. This performance came after Wentz arrived in Minnesota in late August, with the team trading Sam Howell.
O’Connell pushed back on the notion of this being a McCarthy soft benching, per Seifert, but did indicate value for the young starter in watching Wentz execute. McCarthy’s time on IR last season brought significant developmental limitations, even as he could watch how Darnold operated O’Connell’s offense. Now, another hurdle has emerged. How McCarthy progresses in practice will be critical toward his return.
Wentz, 32, has been benched twice, traded twice and cut once since signing a lucrative Eagles deal in 2019. He has now started for six teams in the past six years, becoming the first quarterback to do so. While Week 18 starts in place of resting QBs (Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes) helped extend that streak, those cameos do remind of the former No. 2 overall pick’s nomadic period after both the Colts and Commanders did not bring him back as a starter.
It would be quite surprising if the Vikings abandoned their McCarthy plan after two starts, but some pressure did come from finishing 14-3 last season. Wentz, though, looks likely to have two more games to make his case.
The Vikings travel from Ireland to England between Weeks 4 and 5, following up their Jets tilt with a Browns matchup in London, and have a Week 6 bye. This would give McCarthy a ramp-up period, though it is within the realm of possibility Wentz could change the organization’s thinking in two AFC North matchups. McCarthy will travel to the Ireland and England games.
Additionally, O’Connell said first-round rookie Donovan Jackson underwent wrist surgery; the Ohio State product is likely to miss the Vikings’ Steelers and Browns games before the bye, Seifert adds.
The reigning Coach of the Year said (via Seifert) the Vikes’ left guard suffered the injury in Week 2 and played through it, due to being deemed unable to further damage his wrist, Sunday. But a surgical repair will lead to some time on the sideline. Sixth-year guard Blake Brandel, a 17-game 2024 starter, would be in line to work as a fill-in as part of Minnesota’s revamped interior O-line.