The Minnesota Vikings have already matched their loss total from 2024 after eschewing Sam Darnold for J.J. McCarthy, but much of the blame can’t be pinned on McCarthy.
The second-year quarterback has missed all but two games with an ankle injury suffered late in a Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. While McCarthy largely struggled in his first NFL action, the jury remains out on his viability as a franchise quarterback.
Carson Wentz, brought in just two weeks before the start of the season to replace Sam Howell as McCarthy’s backup, has filled the void for the last four weeks, putting together some impressive stretches of play but ultimately going 2-2 as a starter.
Here’s a closer look at the Vikings’ quarterback depth chart, with McCarthy still sidelined for Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
MORE NFL WEEK 8:
Vikings QB depth chart
| QB | Player |
| 1 | Carson Wentz |
| 2 | Max Brosmer |
| 3 | J.J. McCarthy* |
* — Emergency No. 3 QB despite injury.
1. Carson Wentz
Wentz went unsigned until late August but has provided the Vikings with capable quarterback play since stepping in for McCarthy in Week 3. The well-traveled veteran has wins over the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, but turnovers cost him in narrow losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. Wentz has thrown for more than 300 yards in two of his last three starts, but he threw multiple interceptions in each of those games.
Some had speculated Wentz could remain the Vikings’ starter even when McCarthy is fully healthy, but turnover troubles are keeping that conversation more muted than it would be if the Vikings were consistently winning with him under center.
MORE: Carson Wentz teams timeline
2. Max Brosmer
If Wentz has to exit against the Chargers, rookie Max Brosmer would take his place. The 24-year-old has had quite a journey, spending his first five collegiate seasons at FCS New Hampshire before transferring to Minnesota and putting together a respectable year with 2,828 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions under head coach P.J. Fleck. Brosmer went undrafted but stayed put by signing with the Vikings and making the team’s roster as the emergency No. 3 quarterback behind Wentz and McCarthy.
3. J.J. McCarthy
There isn’t any reason to believe McCarthy won’t be the Vikings’ starter once fully healthy, but Kevin O’Connell is staying patient with the former Michigan star’s recovery from a high-ankle sprain. McCarthy is recovered enough to serve as Minnesota’s emergency No. 3 quarterback behind Wentz and Brosmer, a role that would put him in line to return if both players ahead of him have to exit with injuries, though he is otherwise expected to have a strong chance to return in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions.
MORE: Why did Kirk Cousins leave the Vikings in free agency?
How long is J.J. McCarthy out?
The Vikings have monitored McCarthy’s status week by week since he suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 2, but reports indicated he was at risk of missing several weeks, and the injury has now cost him five games.
Fortunately, a return seems to be on the horizon. O’Connell told reporters McCarthy would have had a chance to start if the Vikings had played on Sunday rather than Thursday in Week 8, indicating the 22-year-old has a legitimate chance to return against the Lions in Week 9.
McCarthy recently called the injury “annoying” because it has continued to linger, but he appears to be making progress, even if only slowly.
