Both MN Vikings QBs Land on Early Week 8 Injury Report

It’s a short week for the Minnesota Vikings, coming off an embarrassing week 7 home loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. They must flush their disappointment quickly, though, because now they must fly out West for a Thursday Night Football showdown in Los Angeles just a few days from now.

While the team didn’t officially practice on Monday, the first Week 8 injury report shared some insight into how the Vikings look health-wise, entering the shortest week of this gauntlet midseason stretch of games.

No healthy starting QB for the Minnesota Vikings

Despite being healthy enough to dress as Minnesota’s emergency QB3 Sunday against Philly, Carson Wentz got the start… and the 32-year-old’s fourth start in purple was inarguably his worst.

Nursing a left shoulder injury entering the contest, everything on Wentz was hurting by the time the game clock hit 00:00 at U.S. Bank Stadium, after he was hit 8 times, some of which were painful just to watch. On Monday’s injury report, both he and JJ McCarthy were listed as “Limited”.

The #Vikings first injury report of Week 8.

The team did not conduct a practice and participation is an estimate. pic.twitter.com/HUQTwAKwj3

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 20, 2025

Today’s QB statuses are interesting because, while McCarthy was listed as “Limited” all last week, Carson Wentz practiced in full, with the same left shoulder injury he is nursing now, yet this is the first time he has been limited at practice.

Nonetheless, Wentz seemed pretty confident during his postgame presser on Sunday, that he would be starting again Thursday night, even if O’Connell continues to play coy. Additionally, Ian Rapoport dropped a report before Sunday’s game against the Eagles, that had Wentz starting through Week 8.

Until we hear otherwise, expect Carson Wentz to start under center Thursday, no matter what the practice report says. Tuesday’s injury report will tell us a lot more about who will and will not be on the field in Inglewood later this week.

Veterans are worth watching for MN Vikings

Brian O’Neill returned to action after suffering a sprained MCL. The hope would be that he made it through the game no worse for the wear, and that his DNP designation is reflective of what would have been a veteran rest day. C.J. Ham also spent time on injured reserve this season, and giving him extra days off makes sense as well.

Their veteran counterpart, Andrew Van Ginkel, remained limited. He has missed multiple games this season due to a nagging neck injury and reports haven’t been great. He did get in action on a side field last week, but it never appeared as though he was in line to play.

Injuries have been a key deterrent of success this season for Minnesota. The Vikings have trended in a positive direction of late, and if there’s any way they salvage the season, that will need to continue.