Kevin O'connell Explains Why Vikings Didn't Pull Injured Carson Wentz Earlier In Loss

The Vikings mislaid their 2nd consecutive crippled connected Thursday night, 37–10 astatine nan hands of nan Chargers. And moreover though backmost Carson Wentz entered nan week nursing an wounded to his non-throwing shoulder, Minnesota, citing J.J. McCarthy's ain constricted health, opted to commencement Wentz. Wentz appeared to aggravate his wounded successful nan first half and seemed to beryllium successful visible discomfort passim overmuch of nan game, arsenic he could beryllium seen grimacing successful symptom amidst nan beating he took—five sacks and 8 backmost hits—from nan Chargers defense.

That was nan mobility connected seemingly everyone's mind arsenic they watched Wentz and nan Vikings discourtesy struggle to nan tune of 164 full yards, conscionable 11 first downs and 17 points. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell provided nan reply aft nan game.

"We kept connected checking successful [with Wentz]," O'Connell told reporters. "Maybe getting Max [Brosmer] fresh to go. Tyler [vice president of subordinate wellness and performance, Tyler Williams] was coming to maine a batch tonight, but each clip he seemed to update maine connected that. Carson was sore going into it. He took evidently rather a fewer hits—but he was capable to—I asked him aggregate times wherever he was astatine and he said he was bully and wanted to support going.

"It did look for illustration he was successful symptom location a mates times."

Did Wentz consciousness his play was compromised owed to injury?

Wentz, who at 1 constituent showed frustration pinch really nan nighttime played retired erstwhile Prime Video cameras caught him slamming his helmet connected nan sideline, was adamant that his play was not affected by nan injury.

"I don't deliberation so," Wentz said. "I don't deliberation throwing wise. That's honestly why I felt assured to go. I felt I could do my job. I thought I could propulsion nan ball. Thankfully, you don't request your near enarthrosis each that overmuch to propulsion nan football. So mechanically, throwing wise, I felt for illustration I could do everything I needed to do."

And Wentz, seemingly successful lockstep pinch O'Connell, ne'er felt he needed to exit nan game.

Brosmer, an undrafted rookie, entered nan crippled successful nan 4th fourth pinch nan consequence each but decided. But did O'Connell see making nan move from an injured Wentz to a patient Brosmer earlier than he did?

"Yeah we did," O'Connell said. "Carson's a seasoned player. He understands, benignant of, immoderate of our circumstances tonight. I deliberation it's very difficult to inquire a rookie to spell successful location for his first capacity and person to beryllium benignant of weathering it a small spot for nan group.

"I did deliberation astir that astatine different times successful nan crippled but astatine nan aforesaid time, nan assurance we person successful Max and nan upside we spot successful Max is real. You besides don't want to nonstop him retired location and unit a level of figure-it-outness that's astir apt beyond a feline playing for nan first time."

Who will commencement astatine QB for nan Vikings successful Week 9?

"...If J.J.'s healthy, J.J. will play," O'Connell told reporters.

McCarthy, nan Vikings' 2024 first-round pick, hasn't played since Week 2 due to a precocious ankle sprain. But it would look that he has a chance to return to nan section successful Week 9 against nan Lions.

Minnesota, pinch immoderate uncertainty nether center, will look to threat a two-game losing streak against Detroit.

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