Carson Wentz has been placed on injured reserve and is set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, according to NFL insider Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Wentz served as a temporary starter for the Minnesota Vikings and made five appearances this season, stepping in for the injured starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy is anticipated to return to action in this week’s matchup against the Detroit Lions.
With Wentz sidelined, Max Brosmer, an undrafted rookie from last season’s Minnesota Gophers squad, will ascend to the No. 2 spot on the Vikings’ depth chart. Brosmer has seen limited action this season, completing 5 of 8 passes for a total of 42 yards in three relief appearances.
Wentz experienced significant discomfort in his left, non-throwing shoulder for much of his five-game stint. His most recent performance was notably painful; the former Pro Bowl player struggled during a 37-10 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers, exiting the game early. Despite his injuries, Wentz managed to secure two wins in his initial three starts after stepping in for McCarthy, who had suffered a high-ankle sprain in a Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The injury occurred during the first half of the Vikings’ Week 5 victory over the Cleveland Browns in London. Wentz demonstrated resilience by continuing to play through the pain, leading a game-winning drive and connecting with Jordan Addison for a touchdown with just 25 seconds remaining in the game.
After a bye week in Week 6 to focus on rehabilitation, Wentz attempted to help the Vikings fend off the Eagles and Chargers but faced challenges, resulting in defeats in both games. His determination to stay on the field was evident, as he requested Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell to let him continue playing despite being repeatedly sacked and clearly in distress.
With Wentz’s departure, the responsibility falls to McCarthy to revive the Vikings’ season, which currently stands at 3-4 and places them last in the NFC North. The Vikings are hoping to leverage McCarthy’s return to turn their fortunes around and remain competitive in the tightly contested division.