With Carson Wentz out for the season, will the Minnesota Vikings turn to J.J. McCarthy at quarterback?
Carson Wentz Out for the Season
#Vikings QB Carson Wentz will undergo surgery on his left shoulder and miss the rest of the 2025 season, sources tell The Insiders.
Wentz gutted it out as long as he could. But he was in severe pain Thursday night in L.A. and now will get the shoulder fixed. pic.twitter.com/PCmvVuoBEL
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 27, 2025
Wentz’ 2025 campaign is over.
Per The Insiders, Wentz will have season-ending surgery on his injured left shoulder.
Wentz originally hurt his left shoulder in Week 5’s win over the Cleveland Browns in London. Wentz dislocated his shoulder, tore his labrum, and fractured the socket.
The veteran quarterback has been playing through the pain for several weeks.
While wearing a shoulder harness, Wentz was in visible pain in Week 8’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football. Wentz finished 15 of 27 for 144 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while getting sacked five times.
Wentz had been filling in for the injured McCarthy, who has not played since Week 2 due to an ankle sprain.
After trading away Sam Howell in training camp, the Vikings signed Wentz to be McCarthy’s backup. Wentz was inserted into the lineup in Week 3, becoming the first quarterback to play at least one game for six different teams in the past six seasons.
Wentz went 2-3 as the starter in relief of McCarthy. The 32-year-old finished with 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions in five games.
Will J.J. McCarthy Return to the Lineup?
NEWS: Vikings QB Carson Wentz is undergoing season-ending surgery on his left shoulder, sources tell me and @alec_lewis. He will be placed on IR.
Wentz played multiple games with the injury. J.J. McCarthy is in line to start for Minnesota in Week 9 against Detroit. pic.twitter.com/IgdY23yoRQ
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 27, 2025
Wentz filled in admirably these last five weeks, but now, head coach Kevin O’Connell needs his starting quarterback to play.
Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, McCarthy will likely be the starter in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions. McCarthy has not played since Week 2 after suffering an ankle injury.
The narrative around McCarthy’s injury has been strange. McCarthy has allegedly not been healthy enough to start. However, the former first-round pick served as the team’s emergency third-string starting quarterback the past two weeks.
McCarthy memorably led the Vikings to a comeback victory in Week 1 over the Chicago Bears. After struggling for the first three quarters, McCarthy threw for two touchdowns and ran for one in the 27-24 victory.
In Week 2, McCarthy struggled in the loss to the Atlanta Falcons, finishing 11 of 21 for 158 yards and two interceptions.
At 3-4, the Vikings are in last place in the NFC North. However, the Vikings have ample opportunities to climb back in the division race. Their first chance comes this Sunday when the Vikings hit the road to play their rivals, the Detroit Lions (5-2).
