BB.VIKINGS SHOCKWAVE: Carson Wentz Hit with Shoulder Injury — Rookie J.J. McCarthy on the Verge of Taking Back QB1
One day after Carson Wentz led the Minnesota Vikings to a comeback victory in London, coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Monday that the veteran quarterback is being evaluated for a sore left shoulder.
Meanwhile, injured quarterback J.J. McCarthy is expected to resume practicing following the team’s Week 6 bye, O’Connell said.
Whether the 22-year-old McCarthy is ready to take back the reins against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7 remains to be seen after he suffered a high ankle sprain in a Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
O’Connell was non-committal regarding Minnesota’s No. 1 quarterback role after Sunday’s win.
“I’m just excited we got the win today, and we’re going to move forward in this bye and get as healthy as we can at all positions, and attack this thing for the next few games,” O’Connell said.
At the time of the injury, McCarthy was given a recovery timeline of 2-4 weeks, which would put him in line to face the Eagles if healthy.
In two games this season, McCarthy has completed 58.5 percent of his passes (24 of 41) for 301 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. The Vikings’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 10 overall) missed last season after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee during his first preseason game.
On Sunday, Wentz threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Addison with 25 seconds left in regulation, lifting the Vikings to a 21-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. The veteran QB completed 25 of 34 passes for 236 yards and is 2-1 with a 69 percent completion rate (69 of 100), five TD passes and two interceptions since replacing McCarthy.
Wentz, 32, seized the Eagles’ starting job straight out of North Dakota State in 2016 as the No. 2 overall pick. He spent five seasons as the Eagles’ starter before moving on to Indianapolis (2021), Washington (2022), the Los Angeles Rams (2023) and the Chiefs (2024).
He owns a 49-47-1 record in his 97 career starts with a 62.9 percent completion rate, 23,169 passing yards, 158 touchdowns, 69 interceptions and an 89.6 passer efficiency rating.
Bruce Arians blasts Browns HC Kevin Stefanski after London loss to Vikings
Bruce Arians slams Kevin Stefanski after the Cleveland Browns fall to the Vikings in Ireland, raising questions about team’s future.
The Cleveland Browns dropped to 1-4 after a 21-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland on Sunday. Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel had a steady debut, showing poise in his first NFL start. Despite that, attention quickly shifted to Kevin Stefanski and his late-game decisions. Former coach Bruce Arians was among those who criticized the Browns offense and their repeated late-game struggles
Popular NFL account JPA (@jasrifootball) posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), sharing a sharp critique from Bruce Arians, who won Super Bowl LV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and coached the Arizona Cardinals from 2013 to 2017. Arians made the comments during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show in the days following Sunday’s loss.
“I don’t know how he’s kept his job this long.”
Arians’ comments come at a time when pressure is mounting in the AFC North standings. The Browns, tied with the Baltimore Ravens at 1-4, are searching for answers despite fielding one of the best defenses in the NFL. That unit, which had dominated through most of the game, couldn’t close against Minnesota—allowing Carson Wentz to go 9-for-9 on the final drive, capped by a game-winning touchdown to Jordan Addison with just 25 seconds left.
On offense, criticism of Stefanski’s conservative play-calling is intensifying. After taking a 17-14 lead in the third quarter, the Cleveland NFL team failed to control possession, calling a three-and-out that lasted only 22 seconds. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, despite eclipsing 100 yards, was underutilized in crunch time—further fueling frustration among fans and analysts.
Arians’ comments carried weight because of more than just his status as a former NFL coach. He brings decades of experience, including a Super Bowl win and multiple Coach of the Year honors. His voice still carries influence across the league and inside team front offices. His blunt take on the Browns echoed what many fans and analysts were already starting to say.
With Week 6 approaching, the AFC North is tightening and fan confidence is slipping. All eyes are now on the Browns offense and its direction under Stefanski. What happens next could shape not only the remainder of the season, but the future of the franchise’s coaching staff.
