Carson

Wentz

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but in case there were any questions about Wentz impacting McCarthy, those can now be laid to rest. Seifert reports the decision to bring back Wentz is “about avoiding the depth emergencies” the Vikings experienced at QB in 2023 and 2025, which resulted from multiple injuries at the position. Wentz, 33, appeared in five games for the Vikings last season, going 2-3 as a starter while throwing for 1,216-6-5 on 169 attempts. A shoulder injury permanently sidelined him for the season after a Week 8 loss to the Chargers, but Wentz should be good to go at the start of next season, and could open the season as high as QB2 on the depth chart — assuming Kyler Murray wins the starting job.

Wentz explored free agency for a few weeks and the Jets seemingly showed some interest before going in a different direction. He’s now back in Minnesota after throwing for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions in 2025. Wentz went 2-3 as the team’s starter and before a shoulder injury knocked him out for the year. His return casts some doubt on the idea of J.J. McCarthy as the team’s QB2 behind Kyler Murray. At best, Wentz will push McCarthy for that role during the offseason.

On one hand, if the Vikings do sign Wentz, they give away the game that J.J. McCarthy isn’t really competing for a starting spot by noting that Kyler Murray has been injury-prone and they need a consistent backup. On the other hand, that idea is so laughable that it’s hard to believe that the NFL’s Sourced Reporters have continued to browbeat us with it. Wentz has also had interest from the Jets. Wherever and whenever he signs, he’ll merely be a backup.

SNY’s Connor Hughes adds that Wentz has “options outside NYJ.” It’s time to really kick this free agency period into overdrive with a Carson Wentz bidding war. It’s what the people want.

Hughes also notes that “Darren Mougey isn’t a stranger to flipping late-round picks for players he wants,” perhaps indicating Smith could come to the Jets on a trade. The Jets, per Hughes, want a two-deep quarterback room with Geno Smith and Carson Wentz at the position.

Cimini continues: “they appear willing to chalk up last season to a dysfunctional situation in Las Vegas.” Cimini’s overview of the Jets quarterback situation hits all the notes we’ve been on in the blurb streets over the past month: Carson Wentz is viewed as the most likely preference of the free agents, Kyler Murray should have better options, and Jacoby Brissett has ties to both Frank Reich and Aaron Glenn while his availability via trade isn’t easily sussed out. But this is yet another Jets beat who believes Smith and the Jets could be on a course for a reunion.

Wentz signed a one-year contract with the Vikings last offseason and wound up throwing for 1,216-6-5 in five games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in late October. Wentz reportedly suffered a dislocation that tore his labrum and fractured the socket in his throwing shoulder, but the soon-to-be free agent can sign with any team when the new league year kicks off next week, and new Jets OC Frank Reich could have his eye on Wentz. Reich’s familiarity with Wentz dates back to their days in Philadelphia, and in 2021 Reich and Wentz reunited in Indianapolis, where Wentz went on to have a resurgent season while throwing for 3,563-27-7. The Jets are believed to be interested in adding at least two veteran quarterbacks this season, so even if Wentz is signed, we shouldn’t expect him to be the default QB1 if healthy. The connection here is obvious and Wentz can likely be had on a cheap deal. Assuming he doesn’t have a big market, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if a deal was reached between the two sides at some point this offseason.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini was the first to report the news. Wentz’s injury is to his non-throwing shoulder, but after further evaluation of his injury, it was decided that surgery would be the best option to correct things. Wentz stepped up to start in five games for the Vikings this season after J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle injury in Week 2. Wentz’s season ends with a 1,216-6-5 line through the air, with four of his touchdowns coming in Weeks 3 and 4. The veteran quarterback signed a one-year deal with the Vikings this offseason and will likely have a chance to earn a backup role somewhere in 2026 once he is back to full strength. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport later reported that Wentz “suffered a dislocation that tore his labrum and fractured the socket” in the Vikings’ Week 6 game against the Browns, and then gutted it out for two more weeks.

This absence is presumably due to the injury to his non-throwing shoulder he dealt with ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Chargers. Wentz took a bit of a beating from the Chargers’ defense in that game, so his absence on Monday is notable. Monday’s practice won’t show up on the team’s injury report, which is released on Wednesday, but even if he is able to play in Week 9, Wentz is most likely to backup J.J. McCarthy, who is making his long-awaited return from an ankle injury he suffered in Week 2.

Rapoport did add one final, “assuming health-wise he is all good,” caveat. Seven weeks removed from his high-ankle sprain, we fully expect McCarthy will be good to go for Week 9. Carson Wentz was given every opportunity to keep the starting job. Things began on a high note with wins over the Bengals and Browns in his first three starts. His play, however, quickly spiraled out of control, culminating in a close loss to the Eagles two weeks ago and a blowout at the hands of the Chargers on Thursday. Wentz tallied seven sacks and three interceptions in the pair of losses. His left shoulder injury also reached a breaking point at the end of Thursday’s game and he was pulled for rookie Max Brosmer in garbage time. McCarthy struggled to start the year before getting hurt, but Kevin O’Connell has been working closely with him to get the young quarterback ready for his return to action. A Week 9 date with Detroit will be a true test of McCarthy’s quarterback whisperer reputation.