Minnesota Vikings News Dump (10.22.2025) | Wentz Starting, Aaron Jones 21-Days, JJ “Not There Yet”

Minnesota Vikings News Dump (10.22.2025) | Wentz Starting, Aaron Jones 21-Days, JJ “Not There Yet”

[Music] I know a girl and Donna was her name. Oh, Donna. What’s going on to Romes? Oh, happy Wednesday. Happy hump day out there to those who celebrate. It’s uh beautiful birds chirping stuff. I know. Time for another Vikings news up. He sees you when you’re pooping. That’s right. Um I I had a poop anecdote, but I’ll save it. So, uh, the question is or was yesterday who’s going to start on Thursday for the Minnesota Fighting Vikings? Of course, it’s going to be Carson Wentz. Everyone kind of knew, right? But it is what it is. Also, uh, 10 10,000 takes point out Carson Wentz hasn’t won a game since Minnesota’s feeasant hunting opener. It’s kind of fair. This is the um, so pheasant hunting opener was on October 11th. So, it was right before the Vikings buy. So, you know, he was out there in the fields. Out here in the fields. I fight for my meals, but uh you would think that hey, I’m really good at shotguning the these little birds. Uh I should be able to do this against the Eagles, not so much. Uh anyways, Carson Wentz is indeed going to be the start of Thursday night short week uh out in LA against the Chargers. Kevin Seafford, ESPN who’s not who’s not carid Carson Wentz will start Thursday. Kevin McConnell confirms JJ McCarthy had an onfield workout this morning, but is just not there. uh maybe would have been in the game uh if the game was Sunday. So I I feel like that’s almost like a well, you know. Yeah. Okay, little fella. We’ll see. But I don’t know. So high ankle sprain against the Falcons. He played in the fourth quarter with it and he’s missed unto cat. This is uh game number five that he’s missing. So we’re approaching six weeks. I I understand that all high ankle sprains are different. Uh McCarthy’s was pretty severe also to his plant foot. But you also got to think too, so McCarthy by all accounts, you know, played through the the high ankle sprain the fourth quarter or even like even like a quarter and a half, right? And you got to wonder, did him playing on this, you know, being too tough for his own good, and Kevin McConnell’s decision to leave him in the game, did this make the injury worse? And did this turn this from a 3 to four week injury, you know, two to four weeks to a four to six, perhaps even longer injury, right? And still not buying the whole soft benching narrative. Uh, but it’s tough, man. is tough because at first he commended him on the toughness, but this is not like the Donovan Jackson completely torn ligament in the wrist where he couldn’t really make the injury worse before he had surgery. Uh you can certainly make a high ankle sprain worse. So, I don’t know. Yeah. Uh but Kevin McConnell talked extensively about uh the decision with JJ McCarthy because on one hand, it’s frustrating because you want to see your guy on the field. On the other hand, I I get why Kevin Oonnell’s been cautious about this because the Okonnell regime has been very cautious cautious with injuries and you want to put it in a spot where MacArthur can move. He can slide in the pocket. He prot can protect himself and also that plant foot affects mechanics, that affects accuracy, that affects power and torque. So there’s a lot of things because they could rush him onto the field and he could look bad and that could basically completely torpedo how fans feel about JJ McCarthy and his prospects going forward. Also could go back to Carson Wentz, right? So I get it. On the other hand, come on man, we got season safe. But guessing strip Kevin Okonnell said the Vikings put Jay McCarthy through an onfield workout this morning, but he’s just not there. I’m already there uh for a Thursday game. Okonnell said it’ll be Carson Wentz starting on Thursday night with Max Bromer as a backup. Yeah, we’re not talking enough about Brosmer is one play away from being he’s the man. He’s the man. He’s the man. Obviously not wishing injury on Carson Wentz, but say Carson Wentz got disqualified for fighting and then Max Bromer goes in and chucks that pill for 300 yards and three touchdowns. I would just love the discourse on twitter.com if that happened, man. Now, McCarthy could have a shot next week. Uh, if he doesn’t, I’m going to take a shot of something. What What the Viking What? Try that again. What do the Vikings still need to see from McCarthy Okonnell? It’s been in some of the movements, reactionary movements within the pocket, being able to use his athleticism to protect himself in the pocket. And then as he’s able to work through progressions, I feel really good about the work we’ve done on his foundation like his charity of his fundamentals that’s been pretty evident through the work that he’s done and he’s really been a commit uh been a commitment to doing that. It’s really just about hey there there’s maybe a guy that gets edged and uh I don’t really know about the move sorry uh movement I’m going to have to make. Uh, that’s where he still feels it. He doesn’t have the ability to do that painfree. We obviously risk setting him back. Can’t do it pain free. Yeah. How’s Jackson Dart feeling? H, but still out there making plays, man. Uh, which would be very, very unfortunate with the time loss already, but also giving him the best chance to go out there and have success is ultimately what we what we’re what we what we’re what we’re looking for. So, there you go. uh and continue said that if this was Sunday, McCarthy could have a chance to push through and try to play, but the Vikings didn’t want to push it for a Thursday. Now, it’s not going to need to be something where he’s 130%. Kind of seems like it. Also, the whole McCarthy could have a chance to push through and try to play. I feel like that’s sort of portraying your quarterback as a pansy, which is no bueno with the fan base, man. you know, McCarthy’s already said that he, you know, last Wednesday that he would play if it was up to him, so clearly it’s not up to him. So, I don’t know, man. Plus, we’ve seen McCarthy got through injuries before, so this is not his choice, apparently. But the, you know, wordage and verbiage and phrasing is important here. Uh, now, and again, MacArthur coming out and balling just will completely make everything better. My god. Uh quite honestly with this kind of injury, he’s got to work through some of that here late in the rehab stages, but it’s about his effectiveness and his ability to go out and do his derb for 60 minutes without having any setbacks or making his job more difficult than it has to be. So hopefully that will be the case and hopefully this ankle issue just like the knee issue will be put behind us and we’ll have our future franchise quarterback and then everyone can shut the hell up about Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones and Aaron Rogers piece of the Middle East. It’ll be great. Uh Tommy Kramer nine on nine. It’s nice to see Darnland Jones playing well. The Vikings did the right thing. JJ is going to be a great NFL quarterback. technique to get our line healthy and JJ some reps. He has a lot to learn. It’s going to take some time. Little guy in the middle. Uh but I highly doubt Tommy Kramer knows who Jimmy Eorld is. Uh but it will be worth it. I can just see it now. So, a lot of fans are impatient. I’m starting to get there, too. Not quite there. But you can just see it. you know, JJ McCarthy, Jonathan James McCarthy doesn’t work out here in Minnesota. The Vikings go a different direction and then all of a sudden he catches on somewhere else and they let him play and he develops, get some reps in and just like Darnold and the Jets and Daniel Jones and the Giants and Stafford and the Lions and Goof and the Rams and Baker and the Browns. Uh oh. A quarterback, highly touted quarterback goes somewhere else after his first stop didn’t work out for whatever reason and then has much success. Great had success. I could just see that you know where. Let’s see. Where would he go? No, not there. Not there. I’ll say that. Oh, this would be a good one. So McCarthy replaces Stafford with the Rams and McVey and Stafford do what uh excuse me McVey and McCarthy do the the Mc brothers uh do what Kevin McConnell and McCarthy were supposed to do and is just a reign of terror of a dozen straight draweries for the Rams and their six fans. Hey the Rams have more fans in St. Lewis and LA by the way, but I shouldn’t manifest that. But also, I’m not superstitious, but I’m a little stitious, so I don’t know. Injury report. Uh, so the Vikings held a walkthrough on Tuesday. Designations come Wednesday. Uh, Ham and O’Neal DNP two days in a row. I wouldn’t read too much into it unless they have a designation on Wednesday. Uh, probably just Veteran Rest. You know, McCarthy, Xavier Scott, AVG Limited, Carson Wentz returned to full. Uh, Tax Good to go. Also, a Aon Jones, come on down. Uh was a limited participant in practice as well. Uh there’s also talk that he could return as soon as this Thursday for the Chargers game and would love to see that. Oh, we just did the Sopranos thing. Don’t stop. It’s like five songs we’ve sung today. In a good mood that uh so Aaron Jones, Tom Anfield Network. The Vikings are opening a Aon Jones 21-day practice window and he potentially could play as soon as Thursday night versus the Chargers. Now, Jones, I mean, you almost forgot about Jones, you know, uh, but Jones had a career-high in rushing yards last year. Uh, he’s still one of the best receiving running backs in the game. I think he’ll greatly help in the Vikings red zone offense. Just more explosiveness, more weapons. Uh, he did catch JJ McCarthy’s second career touchdown pass against the Bears during the comeback. And even though Aaron Jones is going to be back, Jordan Mason still needs to be the early down belcow back between between the tackles, man. Just law and order. All right. So, Mesa needs to remain running back one. Like, if there’s drives that just start out with with uh Aaron Jones diving up the middle. Ain’t about that. No. Use Aaron Jones as a satellite player, scat back, receiving back outside the numbers. Use his speed, use his smarts, use everything, right? Uh, and Jordan Mason needs to remain in the picture. I feel like Mason is going to go for a thousand yards and 10 touchdowns this year. Hopefully. Hopefully. Also, No transition, but uh there could be a change at the center position again as Ryan Kelly is on IR with a concussion. Sean Borman sounds like both Michael Jurgens and Blake Brle will take reps at center this week with Okonnell saying they’ll choose the best lineup for Thursday. Now Jurgens has filled in a couple starts in there for Ryan Kelly. He’s been eyed but Blake Brandle after his good game against the Browns against the Eagles. Six pressures, one sack, one penalty wiped out the Jaylen Naylor touchdown. very ticky tacky. Yes. Uh quick pressure led to the pick six. Uh 35.6 PF pass grade, which is not good. Uh which is 29th out of 32 qualifying centers on that. Good to go. So more shifting along the offensive line, but could be a good change. And hopefully Ryan Kelly will return week 10 uh against the Ravens. Also, so the defense was bad. Well, the defense wasn’t terrible except for the big time plays that resulted in touchdowns or ending of the game, right? And as we said, it was the correct strategy at the time. Load the box against Aquin and make Jaylen Herz beat you and then he beat you. It is what it is. But the Vikings defense will still be good to go. Uh they’re still fourth in the league in terms of uh uh expected points added per play. Z negative.69. Damn good time. Really good. Also coverage-wise, even though the Vikings just got shredded for a perfect game uh by Jaylen Herz, which really does hurt. The Vikings are still third uh in defensive uh pass uh EPA per drop back at 0.1. Got the West Phillips action. Uh the Vikings still primarily playing a lot of cover to Shell. So take away the big plays, tackle, rally tackle underneath and go from there and be able to get pressure on the quarterback, which we need it. We need it. And yeah, the Chargers probably getting jumping Joe Walt back, but we’re bringing that heat, man. That’s right. And also remember, the Chargers are wearing their Navy throwbacks, which it’s kind of good. I mean, these are super clean, super mean, and I’m really sad that we have to completely ruin these uniforms. Kind of like how the Vikings never play good wearing the BUD throwbacks. the the Vikings are going to drop the full-on Dargamine blend teaag on the Chargers and it’s going to be glorious. It’s going to be a good time, man. Anyways, that’s it. Happy Wednesday. Happy hump day. You guys are the absolute best. You know what to do. Goal production value.

Minnesota Vikings News Dump for Wednesday, October 22nd.

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