Top NFL Insider Suggests Vikings May Stick with Carson Wentz

We are just hours away from the Minnesota Vikings rebooting their 2025 regular season, coming off a week 6 bye. They’re being thrown back into the fire immediately too. Because their week 7 opponent back at the friendly confines of U.S. Bank Stadium, is the 2024 -25 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Earlier this week, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that veteran quarterback Carson Wentz will make his fourth-straight start under center, but not because redshirt rookie JJ McCarthy isn’t healthy enough to suit up.

In fact, the Vikings plan to dress the 22-year-old as their emergency QB3, behind Wentz and former Gopher, Max Brosmer. When Sunday’s QB depth chart was initially reported, speculation that McCarthy’s return as QB1 is likely to stretch beyond this weekend vs Philly, quickly followed.

Minnesota Vikings may stick with Wentz until further notice…?

Waiting until week 9 does make sense. The MN Vikings’ next game, after today, is Thursday night in LA on short rest, against the Chargers. That means only one real practice before game day. So if JJ McCarthy isn’t ready to take the reigns today, why would he be ready by Thursday?

But on Sunday morning, NFL insider Ian Rapoport (NFL Network) dropped a bombshell report that suggest the Minnesota Vikings may decide to stick with Carson Wentz, even when McCarthy’s ankle returns to 100%.

Just now, @RapSheet follows up on a story he wrote this morning that suggests the Vikings could stick with Carson Wentz beyond week 8, if he plays well and wins…

"Who is the starter when McCarthy is a full-go? My understanding is the Minnesota Vikings are putting off that… pic.twitter.com/PsBxKZtFjK

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 19, 2025

“Who is the starter when McCarthy is a full-go? My understanding is the Minnesota Vikings are putting off that decision until they absolutely have to make it… If Carson Wentz wins this week, wins next week, 4-1 [as starter], it’s hard to imagine the team making him the backup, after that run.”

Ian Rapoport – NFL Gameday Live (NFL Network)

Related: Official: MN Vikings Activate Linebackers Off Injured Reserve

With a report like this, where Ian got his information is extremely important. And really, there are only two possibilities. He’s either being fed by someone inside the Minnesota Vikings organization or he’s getting it from Carson Wentz’ agent.

The latter, however, would be a pretty bold move from someone outside the Vikings building. So if we assume this leak is a strategic one, and that it came straight from the team… well that makes it all the more interesting.

Vikings clearly not comfortable with JJ McCarthy right now

Rapoport’s report on the MN Vikings’ QB situation came in two forms this morning. Prior to his appearance on NFL Network, Ian took his insider info to NFL.com, where he wrote essentially the same thing that you watched above.

It appears the whole world wants the Vikings to make a decision on their QB moving forward, while Minnesota is more focused on McCarthy’s development and when he’s ready — especially because he didn’t play as a rookie after suffering a preseason knee injury.

If Wentz wins this week, would it make sense to remove him as the starter for a healthy McCarthy? Coaches often roll with the hot hand. If that’s the case, McCarthy would simply wait and learn, while getting in some quality practice time.

Ian Rapoport – NFL.com

And if that’s the case, then what kind of conversations are happening behind the scenes at TCO Performance Center recently? Did Kevin O’Connell realize, after the last couple weeks working more closely with McCarthy, that the 2024 No. 10 overall pick is nowhere near ready to be a competent NFL starter?

Because that’s what all the recent bread crumbs seem to suggest.