J.J. McCarthy’s Anticipated Return, Carson Wentz’s Injury & More | X’s and O’s with Kevin O’Connell

J.J. McCarthy’s Anticipated Return, Carson Wentz’s Injury & More | X’s and O’s with Kevin O’Connell

X’s and O’s with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin Oonnell as topics today that include but are not limited to jumbo packages Jaylen Naylor Christian Darasaw beef eataters and um and quarterback Carson Wentz u who has hit the injured reserve scenario he’ll be out for the season we uh we have talkbacks each and every week with Kevin Okonnell Nordo and um and um here’s that talk back Wow. This is Brandon from North Dakota. We’re in obvious Carson Wentz territory here. I was at his first game, bought a custom jersey, all that. Obviously, the public doesn’t know what each player goes through week to week in the NFL. Um, can you just speak to Carson’s toughness those five games and sort of what that meant to the team in the locker room? Thank you. And um and Carson, I believe for this year, maybe forever will go down. And I guess I’m speaking for you right now. So if I’m wrong, I apologize. He will go down as one of the gave his very best when his very best was required. And he didn’t win them all and he didn’t complete them all, but he gave his best. Yeah, he did. And uh Brandon, that’s a a great question. And I’m really glad that uh that you asked that question because a lot of times in the you know the the week in and week out hustle and bustle of a season, you forget um the commitment that these players make um to being out there for their teammates and and Carson when Carson got here um you know I was excited about getting to know the person and the and the player who I had known a lot about for for a lot of his career. But getting him in here and watching the way he worked and watching the way he prepared uh both when he, you know, was the, you know, was the guy and and obviously before that even, you know, before he knew if he would get any snaps this year based upon, you know, JJ and and and JJ’s health. So, as we as we went into Carson’s opportunity to play, you know, very smart, obviously big, strong guy. Um, so he he literally said to me, you know, when when he first started playing, he was just so excited to play meaningful football again. It had been a few years. He had gotten a little time here and there, but playing in real games uh with a chance for uh to to help his hometown team and a team he grew up rooting for win football games. So, um, throughout the the journey with him, he, you know, I was really proud of the way he battled the the both on the field physically, and we can get to that here in a second, but also just the mental side of preparing and and trying to truly submerge himself in our offense and and and how to try to have a lot of success. And really, four out of the five games, I think we had over right around or or higher than 350 yards of offense. So, he was running the machine, running the engine, and and you know, there’s always plays where a guy’s getting his initial exposure to the offense where either he would like to have him back or play calls I would like to have back or ways we could make things even more um highlevel functioning as an offense. But with what we were dealing with up front um and and some of the injury adversity there with you know multiple combinations playing in front of him during that time, his consistency PA uh was really something to be admired and also the way he prepared each week. uh you know part of the you know once he once he sustained the initial injury to his left shoulder against the Browns it was really a a matter of um you know getting the medical uh you know interpretations where you know once Carson was told you’re you’re going to have to get this fixed but you really can’t make it worse. Um I believe I believe his his his phrase to me was I I want to take advantage of this opportunity. I get to play I get to play with this coaching staff and these players for the Minnesota Vikings. I want to exhaust this um every possible way that I can and and I know JJ will be back at some point here as he gets healthy, but this is a genuine opportunity where I can help this team win. Um and the way he, you know, consistently demonstrated such physical toughness to go along with mental toughness knowing uh that ultimately I’m going to have to get this fixed and and you know, a lot of guys play with uh torn labrooms throughout the season. And a lot of guys wear that harness, but not everybody’s a quarterback. And and although it was not his throwing shoulder, you’re still going to take hits and have to kind of weather the storm. And and the dialogue between Carson and myself was was great uh every single week as long as he was able to have full strength and and knowing that the the shoulder was stable. He felt like he wanted to continue to give it a go and and and play as long as he possibly could. uh knowing he was helping the team in in in some tough circumstances, but also the opportunity to play and feel that uh again like Carson Wentz deserves to to feel. So, um so much credit and I hope Vikings fans just understand, you know, his commitment level to helping this team try to win some football games and what it was like on the minute-to-minute daily basis. and we’ve had a a lot of guys tough guys play the quarterback position here, but Carson is definitely somebody that deserves to be wildly applauded for uh his commitment, his dialogue with with myself and our medical team throughout that time. And ultimately, um you know, we we we had a conversation pretty early in the morning when we arrived back from LA and and kind of you know, Carson for the first time was like, “It’s time. I need to I need to get this thing fixed.” and and uh you know we were we were in full support as as we were the whole time. But at the same time there is a a mentality to the quarterback position where when a guy is so committed and so allin and does not want to be taken off the field you you know you have to honor that. I don’t know if it’s the the former quarterback in me or not or Josh Macau and his as his quarterback coach you know having been uh been in the in the arena the way Josh was as a quarterback in the NFL for a long time. you want to give the Warrior a chance to kind of exhaust those opportunities and and once again knowing that he couldn’t make it worse and knowing inevitably he would have to get it fixed. Um and while JJ was working his way back, he wanted to make sure we gave him every opportunity to do that. I’m really proud of Carson and we’ll forever have a bond um because of you know this time together. So So I mean that that has to be difficult during the course of a game. You’re managing a game. you’re calling the plays. All right, so you’re down multiple scores, but I’ve just learned over the years how all of you are wired, whether you’re down, you know, eight or or say nine, 17 or whatever, is really until it’s over, you’re not going to say it’s over. So therefore, I think is it fair to say that all sides were were all sides feel the best decision was always being made in in in in with with Carson Wentz and and his health in mind. In other words, when I say, you know, Carson, yes, I want to play. You, yes, I want you to play. Obviously, medical staff and everything. I mean, it seems like and and the surgery, too. The the season ending surgery, it seems like all sides um uh feel the best decisions always were made. Yeah. And I I think it’s very very important that um the dialogue with myself and the player always takes place after uh the dialogue with the player and the medical staff and then the medical staff uh making sure that you know uh 100% uh Carson is capable of continuing. The circumstances uh really had not changed from the time he sustained the injury kind of late in the first half against the Cleveland Browns. Um it was really just you know the ability to just tolerate when certain types of uh hits or falls on that shoulder happened. Uh the pain tolerance and and that’s where Carson had made the uh the determination that he wanted to you know fight and and really play as long as he possibly could. Um, and there were some times there in the second half where you know as a head coach you’re you’re you’re looking for confirmation um from Carson and the medical staff that uh you know he’s he’s still good to go and you get that and um ultimately you want to do what’s best for the player and ultimately give him an opportunity to kind of as long as medically um you’re in the clear uh you want to make sure you give that player the runway especially with the kind of toughness and determination that Carson had uh to kind of finish the job. And you’re right, we don’t ever uh our game is one where you’re always a play or two away from either getting back in the game um even off of, you know, Josh Mattel’s interception and we score that touchdown. You’re really thinking one stop and then you get one more. That’s how we think. That’s how we compete. That’s how we’ve been able to come back and and win a lot of one-sore games by having that mentality. As games go and and as games kind of come towards the uh the finish line, you find a way to win a football game. And you if if you’re ever in this business and thinking that you are not playing like that, um you’re probably not uh you’re not in the right business and and that goes for coaches and players and uh that just speaks to who Carson is. and but not no PA and there was never a point in time where uh medically we were going against the grain of uh what was in car Carson’s best interest and ultimately um what Carson um ultimately wanted to kind of see through um until he ultimately made the decision that he wanted to get it fixed which have so much respect for not only the commitment to play as he as he showed and and and many of the things he did playing on the field for our team um but also that uh when when Carson said it was time and and and he wanted to get that thing fixed, you know, we wanted to make sure that we were in full support of that. And and as a former player, then an assistant coach, then a Super Bowl winning coordinator, and now head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, you you I mean, you’ve seen so much over multiple decades. Here’s what I mean. is you’re going to come across players now or 20 years ago who may not be able to handle a little bit of pain as well as some people handle a lot. So it could even be tap out factor United ain’t feeling it for whatever the ancillary reason other side of it like WZ and here’s why I bring it up because when when when he tore up his ACL at the LA Coliseum playing for the Eagles yep that year they’re going to win the Super Bowl. Well, I I don’t know if he was completely straight with with the medical staff when he came over to the sideline. They feel things and they’re like, “Well, he went back out into the game and I think he threw a touchdown and they’re they’re they’re they’re going for the one seed and my man has an ACL and like an LCL or something like that.” And he goes back into the game. I’m not saying he wasn’t being completely straight or but they they pretty much from what I understand laid it out to him like this is the situation. It’s not going to get worse. and he went back out through a touchdown pass to help them get the one seed. So, he would be one of those players who it just seems wants to play through almost anything. But what I think would be difficult for you is that discernment in the middle of the battle. You see what I’m saying here? Yeah. There’s just a lot to it, man. Yeah, there is. But I you know I I think it is important that uh you know you have protocols in place and we have one of the best you know complete medical teams that that I’ve ever been around from Tyler Williams and his entire Tyler’s as impressive as I’ve ever met. Yeah. And his entire athletic training staff but then also you know our orthopedic surgeons that travel with us. We’ve got some of uh the best and and and I know Carson um had consulted with Neil Elatra who is somebody I worked with directly in Los Angeles who uh maybe is the uh if not the best that you know you you know it might be you know one of our guys here but he had you know consulted with uh you know a lot of people involved to make sure first and foremost because we weren’t going to let him back on the field if he could possibly hurt himself more. Um, and once that was determined uh that he couldn’t, then it was more about Carson and his individual uh kind of decision to, you know, do what he thought was best. Uh, where as a head coach, you just have to be supportive of that player if you know um that the he could get to full strength every week, which he was able to do. He was able to participate fully in practice and and quite honestly had some really really good practices uh throwing the football around, running the show. So, you know, every single although this was a a three-game circumstance from Cleveland uh to Philadelphia to um the Chargers on a short week there, um I I believe we exhausted uh all aspects of, you know, dialogue, you know, the medical side of things as well as ultimately, you know, Carson making this decision in the end. Um, you know, I know this the the the most important thing for me is always uh that one-on-one dialogue with the player and Carson and I spent a lot of time together uh kind of making sure throughout uh that uh he absolutely felt like this was the best thing for him and and he did. Um Kevin Oonnell, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, X’s and O’s. So now we move on. Uh you you as you’ve mentioned many times, you want to get a full week of practice out of JJ McCarthy. uh reports and maybe he practiced yesterday. Come back Wednesday, get up to the Lions game. Get a full week out of him. He starts I I don’t know. I haven’t seen any quarterbacks walking around the facility. You put the field F fieldhouse lights on. Peaked in there for a second. I thought I saw John Skelton. So then I just ran the other way. Just kidding. Um but uh what do you do? Do you roll with the kids now? I mean McCarthy, Brosmer. I mean, let’s just roll with the kids. You you love them both. Yeah. No, JJ. JJ’s in a good spot. Um had had some really good work yesterday and and he should get a full full week of preparation in here and and finally feels uh like he’s truly ready to go be himself in regards to his ability to to function at the position but also do the things that JJ McCarthy can bring to our offense from a from a mobility standpoint and his ability to protect himself in many ways, right? uh comes from uh his ability to play with great timing and rhythm from the pocket, but he’s also got the ability uh to create and do some things off the schedule of the play. And then Max uh I’ve made no secret for an undrafted uh free agent. my feelings on Max. I’m I’ve I’ve been excited about Max and his continued progression as a rookie in the NFL continues to be, you know, arrow up and and an exciting time for him and his growth and development. And uh he’ll he’ll step into the number two role and and whether we end up adding, you know, another guy here, just you know, making sure our our quarterback room is complete and prepared for as much as possible. As we’ve learned, you’ve got to be ready for just about anything. Well, Macau just played a few years ago. You think about that. Bill Russell used to be the player coach of the Boston Celtics. I mean, it’s an option. Kevin Oonnell Lexes and O’s. Um, so, um, and and it’s good to know that Darasaw and O’Neal uh are back to practicing and and they’ve practiced just everything’s been so in and out with with those situations like that. Um, and and the reason being is it’s just I just know it’s so tough to win games consistently when you don’t have your offensive tackles. With all due respect to people filling in, you know, especially when they’re they’re both very good. And I think the case in point, you know, just right in front of us took place Thursday night. The Chargers get Joe Alt back. I’m not going to say that he’s Walter Jones or Orlando Pace reincarnate. Very good. Yep. And a lot of things changed with them too from a huddle leadership getting things squared away physicality. So it’s just it’s difficult when you have a Darasaw and an O’Neal to not have them for a long period of time and consistently win. Do you agree? Yeah. And I I give uh you know Brian O’Neal did everything he could possibly do to to try to get uh ready to to play that game, but just couldn’t quite get medically cleared. and and you know I think Christian um you know from a standpoint of the the timetable of his injury and which was a significant injury you know PA uh it was a it was a significant injury for you know Christian’s a big man and and a very powerful man um but the way he’s attacked his rehab throughout the entire process uh has been an inspiration to a lot of guys around here he’s been uh you know kind of somebody that everybody’s kind of looked looked at as you know a tip of the cap to to him throughout and he’s absolutely crushed the timeline that they had for him medically and and the doctors have really been impressed with what CD’s been able to do do and and and fully clear him to play. Now you’re just in a mode uh where there is, you know, obviously as he works himself back within uh kind of that timeline. It’s going to be a process for him and every snap we can have him out there as a positive uh he continues to grow and and get stronger and and feel more and more comfortable. And I think that process will only be uh enhanced here with some of the work he’s obviously gotten. He’s been a huge impact when he’s been in there and and ultimately we hope now eight straight weekends we should have a Sunday game, full weeks of preparation, CD on a a real ironclad crystal clear plan to uh have him prepared and ready to go uh for as much of that football as we can have him for because he’s obviously a franchise left tackle. the um in the Chargers game and something that that I think is starting to take place leaguewide a little more than maybe even last year. Here’s what I’m talking about. They got this player Scott Matlock. Okay. This 44 um he was their fullback. Yep. Um in front of um Kamani Vidal. Kamani Vidal. Um and he played 38 plays the three games up to your game. Played 41 plays in your game. Okay. So, here’s what I’m getting at. Um is starting with the Steelers uh in Dublin. Yep. And Spencer Anderson and that monster tight end Darnell Washington threw I think Fred Johnson came in for a pass play that was a touchdown for the Eagles and then this the jumbo packages. How do you get offenses out of these jumbo packages? Well, I think uh you know, it’s it’s been one of those things where when you look at what we do defensively and especially now that there’s a little bit more inventory of of plays and and seeing uh over the course of Flo’s time here that uh they can create a lot of problems. We’re seeing a lot more. First, it was, you know, you just saw much much more 12 personnel, two two receivers, two tight ends, and a running back in the game. And now it’s only being enhanced even more by, you know, being in those bigger groupings. but adding another uh another offensive lineman in place of that second tight end. But essentially trying to mitigate as much problems and risk that our defense can present if you don’t have enough um to block at the point of attack or you are trying to be physical in the run game. It may shrink your playbook elsewhere, but you are uh anytime you playing against a Brian Flores defense, you already have to have uh somewhat of a shrunken down playbook because of all the exposure to risk that you do show up to the stadium knowing is out there, especially when our group’s at full capacity and and you have the ability to, you know, turn those guys loose with the full gamut of a menu. Uh but yeah, it’s clear people are trying to get bigger against us. They’re trying to cover up more gaps. are trying to make sure uh that they have all the edges accounted for and try to have as many positive plays without having negatives as possible. Uh cuz that’s really when our defense can be at their best when they’re forcing those negatives, getting you into third and long situations. Really, the Eagle game um kind of was an outlier as far as their ability to convert on some of those third and 12, third and 15s that were some backbreaking conversions when historically our defense has gotten off the field on those plays. And you got to credit them. But then we also have to take a look at it as a coaching staff and and figure out how do we get people in more uh you know second and long into third and longs and then ultimately how do we get off the field when those downs come up because they’re critical huge plays in the game wi with young quarterbacks or new quarterbacks to a team w which could even be you here in 2022. Cousins had been here been in the league but it’s new. Uh but let let’s just go with young quarterbacks. How how many generally do you need to see before you kind of have a feel for what you have? Is is it like 20ish? And and here here’s why I ask because Josh Allen, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. All right. In 2018 when he was a rookie, 10 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 52% on the completions. Okay, you look at that then and you look at Josh Allen now or really from like his 22nd start on, well, he’s become one of the very best in the NFL. So, do you have a number or is it impossible to have a number? Like, I can’t put a blanket on what I think about this situation until I see how many games. Yeah, I think it’s hard to, you know, it’s hard anyway to put a number on that. I think you have to go with uh the real what are you seeing with your eyes? What are what what’s being absorbed? What are the where’s the improvement? Where’s the growth? Where’s the consistency of some of the things that have been uh coached and some of the things that have been identified as things that need to happen to see that ascension kind of take place, it gets even more difficult, PA, to put a number on that considering an entire year on the grass was lost. So now you’re um in a situation where you’re trying to um you know, if you’re drawing up the ideal way of bringing along a quarterback, losing a year on the grass is is not ideal. But at the same time, um, you know, the type of, uh, worker and and the type of, uh, you know, off the- field traits and the physical traits JJ has, uh, you want to continue, uh, to pour into those and try to accelerate that wherever possible. And that’s when ultimately whether it’s playing in a game where you didn’t practice a whole lot because of some circumstances or you you you know have another injury and you lose time. All of that makes it even more difficult to project when that number is when that time comes where you truly know exactly what you have. And until then you’ve you’ve got to have the opportunities to uh continue to give the runway uh for a guy to show that growth. And we’re still very early on in that process. Maybe not along the timeline because of some of the circumstances, but uh as far as actual game action, JJ’s going to start his third game, you know, against the Detroit Lions coming up this Sunday. Uh tight end Ben Sims. Uh you always like Ben Sims, undrafted from Baylor. I remember when he got here and and you know, you you weren’t super happy when he got blocked off the practice squad, but other teams get to do that. Um but you always liked him, right? Yeah, Ben’s a um another one of those guys that Brian Angelico, our tight end’s coach, really became fond of and you know, right in the mix to maybe get drafted and and and you don’t uh uh you don’t have a chance to draft him. So, you find a way any way possible to try to get him to still become a Minnesota Viking. And uh as hard of a decision as we’ve had roster-wise, you know, Ben being probably that 53rd, 53.5 player that year, you’re just hoping that you maybe get him back to continue that ascension on the practice squad. And then ultimately with the rules now and the elevations, uh you really do have more than just your 53 guys on the roster to go ahead and form a game day 48 or, you know, depending on how many guys you have up. So, uh, very much we’re kind of waiting for the day we can maybe get him back here and and and it did finally come. And he arrived here, uh, late last night. He’s in here today getting back acclimated, but very excited to have Ben Sims back back aboard. Yep. Quickly, just two to close. One on the Lions, one on Jaylen Naylor. Jaylen Naylor. Uh, despite his stat stats not being anything huge, and due to circumstances, in my opinion, mostly out of his control, I I think is he having a sneaky really good season here? Yes. Yeah. I mean, he’s Yeah. So, like why? Yeah. He’s, you know, there’s just so many things that he can do, PA, that that help our offense go. And it doesn’t always equal, you know, a bunch of catches and a bunch of targets and things like that. Uh, but when his numbers been called, he’s been huge. He’s had, you know, you think back to the first game, that that big catch to towards the end of the half to get us into will record field goal range for three points there that inevitably ended up being the three points we needed to win the game. um third down conversions versus Cincinnati, tight coverage, playing through contact, his ability to function, you know, in the box as a as a receiver and 11 personnel and and be physical and do some do some jobs. And then ultimately both him and Adam uh with where we’ve been at uh you know at the tackle position for for a good chunk of our season using those guys as you know in in many ways as that second tight end type body so that you can try to get some help on the edges while still allow TJ Hawinson to you know occasionally run a route free from having to do some dirty work at the start of the snap, right? Um, it’s all part of kind of that team philosophy, guys doing things for the greater good of the of the group, but at the same time, you want to make sure those guys and especially Jaylen get their opportunities to impact the game because he’s proven time and time again he can do that. With uh with Ben Johnson gone to Chicago, Lions are next. Do do they still run tricks? I mean, do we still see Pane Su on jet sweeps? They they still they still do a lot of those things. JT Barrett actually is uh in Chicago with Ben. I know JT had a lot to do with their their trick uh their trick play arsenal that they had there uh with Ben and Detroit, but yeah, it’s all still there. These players, it’s part of their DNA. Um you got to be ready for double passes, reverses. You got to be ready for them to try to get unique ways to get maybe Jameson Williams down the field as the explosive player he is. Obviously, we know Gibbs in Montgomery. And then Almanra, you know, is, you know, as as as consistent and impactful as a complete receiver as there are there really is in the NFL. He can do it inside, outside, you know, man zone. Um, so they really don’t uh they have the type of weaponry that they they don’t need to dip into that that arsenal very often, but they do clearly still have the capabilities and and with Jared playing as high at a high a level as he is right now, he’s been wildly consistent and just continues to propel that offense to be very very difficult to play against going to be a challenge for us. And and Dan Skipper with the jumbo package. He just came back. Uh lastly for your defense, um I’m just going to go numbers to to have 61 93 97 43 58 with 51. I’ll just stop it right there. Yep. Uh Van Ginkle, if andor when he returns, hopefully it’s this weekend. Uh with uh with that group right there, um what what moving forward through the final 10 do you need to see from Jayvon Hargrave? Yeah, I think the the biggest thing is just uh the consistency factor of u the balance between uh technique fundamentals within the scheme uh required. It’s not just about individually uh winning winning your m matchup and trying to make a play. And in many ways our guys want so badly to make that play uh that sometimes uh guys are maybe straining outside maybe their initial responsibilities to maybe make a play here or there. It’s all credited to the the deep down desire to try to do things to help our team win. So, that’s an extreme positive and and we’ve just got to play uh our defense is at their best in my opinion and really in Flo’s opinion. Um when we have 11 guys all at, you know, in unison, totally connected, playing as one group where the plays come to everybody within our defense as PA. We saw a year ago with the turnovers that were forced, the negative plays. Uh what we’ve got to do is maintain the discipline of that through each and every snap. Um and play with the physicality and the disruption uh that have has kind of been a hallmark of Flo’s defense since he got here. We just need it a little bit more consistently. Obviously getting Van Ga Van Ginkle back will be a huge uh just because he is uh able to do so many jobs within the defense that allows other guys to really be in their comfort zone of doing the things that they were either brought here for or they’ve consistently shown throughout their careers. So I think it’s a lot of puzzle pieces, but he’s obviously a very big part of it. Um and hope to have him back as soon as possible. Great seeing you. Yeah, thanks BA. Yeah, thanks for the time. Kevin Okonnell, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Let’s X’s and O’s into the Lions game. Back after this.

Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell talks with Voice of the Vikings and KFAN’s Paul Allen ahead of the Week 9 game vs. the Detroit Lions, quarterback Carson Wentz’s injury and his determination, quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s progress and anticipated return, the impact of tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill on the offense, and more.

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