The Minnesota Vikings are once again navigating a quarterback crisis, as veteran Carson Wentz‘s gritty, temporary tenure has come to a grinding halt due to a severe shoulder injury that will require season-ending surgery. Wentz, who took over for injured starter J.J. McCarthy in Week 2, suffered a catastrophic blow to his non-throwing (left) shoulder during the London clash with the Cleveland Browns on October 5th. 

The injury, which included a dislocation, a torn labrum, and a fractured socket, would be debilitating for most, but Wentz played through it for two and a half games. The veteran’s decision to stay on the field, even taking a painful total of 19 sacks in five starts, was a blend of personal drive and team strategy. He had consulted medical professionals, too. According to Vikings insider Ben Goessling, X post he writes;

“Wentz had consulted with Dr. Neal ElAttrache about whether he could continue to play after injuring his left shoulder in London, and decided he wanted to play.”

The sheer toughness was on full display in the final game against the Chargers last Thursday. Wentz was visibly wincing, enduring heavy hits that left him in agony on the field and the sideline. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell reportedly offered to pull him multiple times, but Wentz fiercely insisted on continuing, culminating in a dramatic, game-winning touchdown pass to Jordan Addison with just 25 seconds left before finally being substituted for Brosmer.

The Vikings flew home 3-2, heading into their bye week. The severity of the issue was only felt on Friday when Wentz decided to get shoulder surgery on Friday.

Facing criticism for allowing a severely injured player to continue, O’Connell maintained a firm defense. He asserted that team doctors had confirmed Wentz was not risking further structural damage by playing,  “I would never have allowed Wentz to play if the doctors had advised against it.” 

Well, regardless of what has happened, as Caron is deemed out for the 2025 NFL season, the focus immediately shifts back to the man he was protecting: J.J. McCarthy, and the person who will be the backup QB 2.

The Vikings want to move forward with Max Brosmer as their second QB

The Vikings have made a quick decision on their quarterback situation after the bye week. The plan is clear as J.J. McCarthy is set to return as the starting quarterback (QB1) for the team’s next game in Week 9. With the starting job secured for McCarthy, rookie Max Brosmer will be moved up to the backup QB2 role. This promotion is a big deal, especially because the Vikings currently have no other quarterbacks on their roster, not even on the practice squad. This means Brosmer is just one snap away from leading the team.

Kevin Seifert, a reputed Vikings reporter for ESPN, tweeted on his X account. “Even if the Vikings add a third QB in the coming days, Kevin O’Connell said that Max Brosmer will be the No. 2 behind J.J. McCarthy following Carson Wentz’s season-ending surgery.”

Though Max Brosmer is not quite familiar with professional NFL but he is not completely new either. He has already made two brief appearances this year and has completed 5 out of 8 passes for 42 yards. Looking into his overall play, Brosmer has played four seasons at New Hampshire, earning a First-team FCS All-American honor in 2023. He finished his college career at Minnesota with an excellent final campaign, completing 66.8% of his passes for 2,617 yards, with 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions, plus five rushing touchdowns.

The Vikings face a difficult challenge in Week 9 as they prepare to play the Detroit Lions. Oddsmakers in Las Vegas see the Lions as significant favorites (8.5-point favorites), suggesting the Vikings will have an uphill battle for McCarthy’s return game.