Carson Wentz could make NFL history if he starts for Vikings after J.J. McCarthy injury

Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter of the team’s 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, leaving McCarthy’s status uncertain for Sunday’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals and opening the door for veteran Carson Wentz to start.

If Wentz is named the starter, ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell noted that Wentz would become the first quarterback in NFL history to start a game for six different organizations in six consecutive seasons, a stretch that would run from 2020 through 2025.

McCarthy sustained the injury on a second-and-20 play when he scrambled and was hit from behind by linebacker Kaden Elliss, O’Connell said. The rookie was evaluated on the sideline and finished the game, but reported heavy soreness on Monday. O’Connell described the news as “crushing” and emphasized that the situation is medical, not performance-related.

"In fact, it was pretty crushing this morning to hear [about the injury]," O’Connell told reporters. "Look, for J.J., he’s in a long process, a long journey right now where there’s going to be some ups and downs. … But no, this is a purely medical-based thing that we’re dealing with right now."

Wentz, 32, was the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and spent his first five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Beginning in 2020 he has appeared for a succession of teams: the Eagles (2020), Indianapolis Colts (2021), Washington Commanders (2022), Los Angeles Rams (2023), Kansas City Chiefs (2024) and now the Vikings (2025). He started 12 games for Philadelphia in 2020 and 17 games for the Colts in 2021, with significantly fewer starts in subsequent seasons.

Wentz has served as both starter and backup during the recent phase of his career, joining teams on short-term deals and stepping into games as needed. A start on Sunday in Minneapolis would mark a continuation of that pattern and create the unique streak highlighted by Barnwell.

McCarthy’s turnover-prone moments were also noted in the Falcons game; he fumbled while being sacked by Zach Harrison in the fourth quarter. The Vikings coach acknowledged the team must limit errors "that end up being totally out of J.J.’s control" and said Minnesota must play more consistently around the young quarterback.

The Vikings list McCarthy’s status as day-to-day while the club evaluates the severity of the ankle sprain and considers its quarterback plan for Sunday’s game against a Bengals team traveling to U.S. Bank Stadium. Any official naming of a starter is expected closer to game time pending medical updates and practice reports.

If Wentz does start, the game will serve as another data point in his recent journeyman arc and a rare statistical footnote in NFL history. O’Connell and the Vikings declined to speculate on roster moves beyond the team’s immediate medical assessment, saying decisions will be driven by McCarthy’s recovery timetable and what is best for the club’s on-field performance.