So....Carson Wentz
I’m not overly familiar with Wentz, so I did some digging.
He’s had several good seasons. One Eagles insider said a few months ago that 2017 Carson Wentz was the best QB he’d ever seen in an Eagles uniform. That year he threw for 3200 yards, 33 TDs and 7 INTs. He was voted All Pro, and was a legit candidate for MVP honors before he was hurt and Nick Foles took over.
He followed that season with two more mostly good seasons in Philly. Then for whatever reason, he shit the bed in 2020, was benched and Hurts took over. He was traded to the Colts where, again, he played pretty well (3500, 27 TDs and 7 INTs) before collapsing late in the year, losing two games that eliminated the Colts from the playoffs. This is where Wentz earned his reputation for poor performances in big moments (he’s got some Sam Darnold in him). There was also buzz about a lack of leadership and resistance to coaching. After one season, he was traded to Washington in 2022, where he didn’t play well, broke his finger and never got his starting job back when he returned to health.
He signed with the Rams late in 2023 as a backup to Matt Stafford after Brett Rypien faltered in his only start. So like this year, Wentz had no training camp and was in the offense for just a few weeks before starting a late season game after the Rams secured a playoff spot. This is the offense that most resembles ours. Below are highlights from that game.
Prediction: Wentz will at least make our offense look functional again and there will be talk about him continuing as the starter after JJ returns. However, it’s pretty clear he can’t be trusted in crucial moments. And there might even be some cultural flare ups. So I think, to the surprise of everyone, KOC will go back to JJ when he’s healthy. It will be controversial; it will also be the right decision.
I think our offense will look borderline functional because they’ll have had a week to get back to fundamentals and address any weirdness we struggled with in Atlantas scheme. I’m not expecting a lot from Wentz. Cousins said he needed until week 7 to get comfortable in this offense. I’m not confident Wentz is going to look the part this soon.
With Wentz, I'm mostly worried about the lack of time in the system...but, he's got all the physical tools and experience to be a big help while JJM heals and the team tries to shake off the rough start.
Yes, his being an NDSU alum is a positive for me, as my family (we're largely a pack of NoDaks) went there, still do. That said, I'm glad we have him and not Trey Lance.
He seemed to have ego flame-outs early, which should be in his mirror after some career humility has been served up. This could be at least as good as we'd have gotten retaining veteran QBs over the offseason.
KOC, JJM, Flores...make a good plan, or you'll be following Kwesi....
Would not be surprised to see a more functional offense this week - LOW bar.
I'm not anticipating any future QB schisms.
Funny how 1/1 feels like 1/4 lol!
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
I'm expecting lots yardage and turnover-worthy plays from Wentz but to be honest, if he lights it up or looks like a slug back there I haven't given it a ton of thought. I'm still a bit shell-shocked about the McCarthy injury along with all of the others.
It would take a Herculean effort from Wentz and the team as a whole for me to even entertain the notion of rolling with him even after JJM eventually gets healthy. Again this seems such a longshot to me I haven't deigned to consider it. Beat the Bengals and then I'll start to believe. Maybe.
medaille wrote:
I think our offense will look borderline functional because they’ll have had a week to get back to fundamentals and address any weirdness we struggled with in Atlantas scheme. I’m not expecting a lot from Wentz. Cousins said he needed until week 7 to get comfortable in this offense. I’m not confident Wentz is going to look the part this soon.
I'm not expecting greatness, but I do think he can run a limited version of our offense, which is likely what he was given in that Rams game. And what Josh Dobbs was given two years ago when he was forced to play less than a week after being acquired. He won't have Dobbs' running ability, but I was surprised at how well Wentz moved in those Rams highlights. Like I said, he's got some Sam Darnold in him: Top three pick, good arm, underrated mobility, gets in his head in big moments.
Wentz never lacked for ambition, and he'll have as good of a skill player collection as he's ever enjoyed. I expect that he'll try to push the ball downfield pretty hard, though I expect some "gambling" that will have us all hissing through our teeth.
The Bungles' defense is not impressive, and they're fielding a backup QB as well. Reportedly, he won't have the best protection, either.
We're in our house, so that may be the difference in that whacko backup-fest.
KOC, JJM, Flores...make a good plan, or you'll be following Kwesi....
purplefaithful wrote:
Would not be surprised to see a more functional offense this week - LOW bar.I'm not anticipating any future QB schisms.
Funny how 1/1 feels like 1/4 lol!
1-1 does feel like 1-4 (or maybe I should say 1-7) because out of 8 quarters of football, we've seen one good quarter.
The last time I really watched Wentz in a game...I don't remember what uniform he was wearing. I think it was after he came back from an injury and my impression was that he was not an athletic runner. Maybe I'm wrong, and I am just going from recollection, but I will be watching with interest, for sure.
My prediction: Wentz pops off for 300+ yards on Sunday.
"The Vikings have only run 3 quick-game concepts thus far this season" and the "Vikings rank 32nd in quick-game attempts per game since the beginning of 2023".
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) September 17, 2025
Wow 🤯
(Via: @alec_lewis / @TheAthletic) pic.twitter.com/HR12gCgTBw
comet52 wrote:
https://x.com/TPPSkol/status/1968319562707001725
It's obvious why the Vikings spent so much on rebuilding their OL in the offseason. But, hey, Kev, keep your long game. Just have some quick options that you can turn to when you're not getting the kind of protection you need to run it.
The issue with Wentz is he has only thrown 47 passes over the previous 2 seasons and had no training camp. I also question his desire to play and the fact that Andy Reid didn't want him back. I think he had it in him at one point to be a good NFL QB, but not sure he is the same guy today. I don't think he will stay healthy and think we will eventually see Brosmer.
MAD GAINZ wrote:
This season has quickly lost its luster with JJ McCarthy out and a bunch of injuries to important players...
Yes but a win this weekend, 2-1 and the bandwagon will start chugging along once again.
MAD GAINZ wrote:
This season has quickly lost its luster with JJ McCarthy out and a bunch of injuries to important players...
Rotten luck for any out of towners who got tickets to see McCarthy vs Burrow a few months back. Hopefully the Vikings still put on a good show. But I agree. Week 2 was very deflating compared to how I felt after Week 1.
StickierBuns wrote:
Big time for me. I just don't care to read or post about the team in the state of disarray its in. The injuries are almost comical....as was the protection for JJM.
Carson Wentz will be the seventh QB to start a Vikings game in the last 3 years:
Kirk Cousins
Josh Dobbs
Nick Mullens
Jaren Hall
Sam Darnold
J.J. McCarthy
Carson Wentz
Inexcusable that KO has zero rings to show for his tenure with that loaded lineup /s
MAD GAINZ wrote:
This season has quickly lost its luster with JJ McCarthy out and a bunch of injuries to important players...
No doubt, you could feel the air virtually being sucked out of Skol Nation after last week's disaster, followed by JJ's injury news. But fans are a fickle bunch. A victory Sunday, a modest performance from Wentz, followed by the likely return of Darrisaw, Gink, Kelly and Addison the following week, and the mood will turn around quickly. With Cleveland and Pittsburgh upcoming, it's not out of the question the Vikings can still be 4-1 going into the bye.
But first things first. We have to find a way to win on Sunday, even if we have Walter Rouse trying to block Trey Hendrickson with no help. With the Bengals suspect OL, 4-pick Nick (aka Jake Browning) starting at QB and their CB room banged up, I like our chances. Just please, no more god damn injuries.
This thing nosedived fast from JJM is gonna be a star and we're gonna win 12 games!.. to we suck, everybody's injured, our coach can't get out of his own way, oh crap it's Carson Wentz.
I guess if you're gonna go off a cliff, go at 100mph lol.
comet52 wrote:
https://x.com/TPPSkol/status/1968319562707001725
The KOC special.
As to Wentz, he said he learned alot behind Stafford and Mahomes the last 2 years. Hopefully that helps him as well. I expect a good game against a not so good D if we block Hendrickson with multiple people. Maybe we run the ball?
Has 1/1 ever felt this bad lol!
My hope this year was:
Be competitive, be entertaining and a realistic hope we got the QB box checked...
Lots of ball left to be played, but I got a bit of a pit in my tummy. One that is familiar and I dont like much.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
purplefaithful wrote:
Has 1/1 ever felt this bad lol!My hope this year was:
Be competitive, be entertaining and a realistic hope we got the QB box checked...Lots of ball left to be played, but I got a bit of a pit in my tummy. One that is familiar and I dont like much.
Off season expectations set us up for the kick in the nuts we have witnessed so far. 1-1, same as the Lions, but two teams that seem to be headed in opposite directions.
I still feel this team and JJ will be pretty good if they can get healthy and get their starting O-line on the field.
But the situation they are in right now is a bit demoralizing.
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