The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a historic win after a tough loss to the Atlanta Falcons just a week ago. Both the offense and defense were firing on all cylinders. The victory against the Cincinnati Bengals was historic, as the Vikings achieved something no other NFL team has ever done.
“The Vikings are the first team in NFL history to have… 2+ pass TD, 2+ rush TD, 2+ defensive TD, 2+ made field goals... all before the 4th quarter of a game,” Opta Stats posted.
Backup quarterback Carson Wentz started the game after JJ McCarthy was injured at the end of the Falcons game. The offense looked great under Wentz, and it was a special moment for him.
“I used to come to the Metrodome, and I was waving the towel. … And so running out of that tunnel this week will probably hit me a little bit different — in a really cool, kind of surreal way,” Wentz said.
There is no definite timeline for McCarthy’s return, but it appears he won’t be back for a couple of weeks.
“McCarthy's injury puts him on a recovery timetable of two to four weeks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
While the assumption is that McCarthy will resume the starting role once he’s healthy, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell left that uncertain.
“I don’t think it’s one of those things where it’s the day he’s healthy, the night before the game just throw him out there and say ‘hey go figure it out…’ That also doesn't require an answer on that question today,” O’Connell told the media.
It seems clear that Wentz is auditioning for the starting spot while McCarthy is out. Some coaches would make it obvious that McCarthy is the guy, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in Minnesota.
Perhaps this injury will reveal Wentz as the better overall quarterback. If that happens, McCarthy may have to accept his new role as the backup.