Carson Wentz: A Golden Opportunity to Become Vikings' Starter After J.J. McCarthy's Injury

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The Minnesota Vikings faced a significant challenge early in the 2025 NFL season after their starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, suffered a serious injury.

The incident occurred in Week 2 of the regular season, forcing the team to immediately find a replacement.

In this emergency situation, Carson Wentz, a veteran quarterback who had just joined the Vikings in August 2025, was named the starter.

Wentz's new role as the Vikings' offensive leader was expected to keep the team performing well, although he would have to adapt quickly.

J.J. McCarthy, the Minnesota Vikings' star rookie quarterback, suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season.

The injury occurred during a game against the Atlanta Falcons on September 14, 2025, which the Vikings lost.

According to ESPN, McCarthy is expected to miss two to four weeks due to the injury.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed that McCarthy will not play in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

O'Connell also stated that McCarthy arrived at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in significant pain.

While the injury is not expected to be a long-term issue requiring Injured Reserve (IR), the team will monitor McCarthy's response to treatment throughout the week.

McCarthy is reportedly out for two to four weeks, meaning Wentz will be Minnesota's starter for the next few weeks.

He could potentially start against the Bengals, Steelers, Browns, and Eagles, depending on how long McCarthy is out. Wentz is one of the most experienced backups in the league, with 94 career starts.

Wentz, who signed with the Vikings on August 24, 2025, as McCarthy's backup, now finds himself in a more central role.

This is a "huge opportunity" for Wentz to reassert his worth as a premier quarterback in the NFL.

After several seasons of bouncing around teams and often serving as a backup, Wentz has a platform to prove he can still lead a team.

With McCarthy out, Wentz's backup is undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who played college football at Minnesota.

Carson James Wentz, born on December 30, 1992, in Raleigh, North Carolina, is an American professional quarterback standing at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and weighing 237 lbs (107 kg).

He was named valedictorian of Century High School in Bismarck in 2011.

His college career began with the North Dakota State Bison, where he won two consecutive NCAA FCS national championships as a starter.

In 2014, Wentz set program records for pass attempts, completions, and passing yards, and was the team's second-leading rusher with 642 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Wentz began his NFL career after being selected second overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2016 NFL Draft, making him the highest-drafted FCS player in history.

During his career, he played for several teams:

• Philadelphia Eagles (2016–2020)
• Indianapolis Colts (2021)
• Washington Commanders (2022)
• Los Angeles Rams (2023)
• Kansas City Chiefs (2024)
• Minnesota Vikings (2025–now)

Through the end of the 2024 season, Wentz's career statistics include 22,410 passing yards, 153 passing touchdowns, 67 interceptions, a 62.7% completion percentage, and an 89.3 passer rating in 98 games (94 as a starter).

He also recorded 1,418 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.

His notable accomplishments include Pro Bowl (2017), Second-team All-Pro (2017), FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year (2017), and Maxwell Club Player of the Year (Bert Bell Trophy) (2017).

In 2017, before an injury ended his season, Wentz led the Eagles to an 11-2 record and played a key role in their Super Bowl LII victory.