For the second consecutive season, veteran Carson Wentz is here to save the Minnesota Vikings when the starting quarterback goes down with injury.
Last year, it was first-round pick J.J. McCarthy who went down with an injury after struggling in his brief time as the starter. This year, the newly signed Kyler Murray left Week 1 with a concussion, and Wentz was thrust into the starting role. Despite entering the game down 9-0 against the Green Bay Packers, Wentz led the Vikings to a 39-22 comeback victory to start the year.
Wentz was solid entering the game in relief for Murray. The veteran completed 12 of his 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Last year, Wentz went 2-3 in five starts for Minnesota, throwing for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Even after his heroic effort in Week 1, NFL insider Ian Rapoport is not convinced that Wentz has won the starting job. Rapoport believes that the Vikings still want to see what an offense led by Murray will look like, and that Wentz will only start until Murray is healthy enough to return.
On Tuesday’s Pat McAfee Show, Rapoport spoke about how the Vikings want Murray’s dynamic dual-threat skills at quarterback once he is back under center.
“I’d be surprised if Carson took the reins and ran with it. I’d be surprised if he was their starting quarterback because Kyler is going to come back, and I would expect it to be him.”
Rapoport did go on to say that head coach Kevin O’Connell named Wentz as the team’s backup because he has trust in the veteran to enter a game with minimal reps. Wentz became the first quarterback since Fran Tarkenton in 1961 to enter a game as the backup and throw three touchdowns with no interceptions in a season-opening win.
There is no timeline for Murray to return right now, but concussions typically keep players out for at least one week. Murray will have to clear the league’s concussion protocol before being able to suit up in a game again. For now, Wentz will be under center for the divisional matchup against the high-flying Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday.
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