Carson Wentz on Playing Through Injury

Carson Wentz wants it understood: his decision to play despite a serious injury is not the Vikings’ fault.

Wentz, who dislocated his shoulder and tore his labrum during a Week 5 match against the Browns, played through the pain in the following games after a bye week. Despite his injury, he threw for 144 yards with one touchdown and one interception during a loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.

Scheduled for shoulder surgery, Wentz explained to reporters that he made the choice to keep playing. “This isn’t new for me,” he said. “I knew what I was getting into. No one pressured me. The coaches and trainers were all great in communicating, and I was fully aware of the situation.”

It’s been a while since the veteran quarterback had a solid run as a starter. He hadn’t started double-digit games since his time with the Colts in 2021. So the chance to play for the Vikings felt significant for him. “I mean, it’s fun,” Wentz admitted, reflecting on how much he had always dreamed of this role. “Even with the pain, it’s tough to let go of something you’ve wanted for so long.”

Wentz emphasized that he wanted to do everything he could to help the team despite the injury.

The Vikings are set to bring back second-year QB JJ McCarthy, who hasn’t played since injuring his ankle in Week 2. Head coach Kevin O’Connell noted that McCarthy has had a full week of practice and is ready for the matchup against the Lions this Sunday. O’Connell also mentioned how McCarthy has learned from observing Wentz’s performance. “He told me multiple times how enlightening it was to watch Carson develop as a player within our offense,” O’Connell said.

Earlier in the week, the team also added John Wolford to the practice squad as they look to bolster quarterback depth.