QB2 Carson Wentz Starts Again As Vikings Attempt To Ground Eagles

QB2 Carson Wentz Starts Again As Vikings Attempt To Ground Eagles

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The Minnesota Vikings should be well rested and prepared to face the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, a team that has stumbled badly over the past two weeks against the Denver Broncos and New York Giants.

The Vikings will once again have former Eagle Carson Wentz starting at quarterback in place of JJ McCarthy. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has been talking about McCarthy for nearly two years, but he is still feeling the effects of a high ankle sprain that has sidelined him since the end of their loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2.

McCarthy may not have been the better performer O’Connell had hoped as he discussed his many assets. The other factor is that he is not healthy enough. Wentz has been solid in winning two of three games, and now he gets the call as the Vikings begin a four-game series that will determine the direction of their season.

The Vikings face the Chargers, Lions and Ravens after hosting the Eagles, with the Chargers game coming after a short week. If McCarthy isn’t ready to start against the Eagles, O’Connell likely won’t think he’s ready to start Thursday night at SoFi Stadium.

The Vikings will have to protect Wentz from his former team. That means they have to get hold of Jalen Carter, who returned to practice this week after missing some time with a heel injury. He was limited in Thursday’s session, so he’s not 100 percent, and that could give the Vikings offensive line some breathing room against Philadelphia’s front.

If Wentz gets adequate protection, he will be able to attack cornerbacks Adoree Jackson and Kelly Ringo if Quinnyon Mitchell goes down with a hamstring issue. Mitchell looked solid in Thursday’s practice, but competing at full speed against Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison could be a bridge too far. Neither Jackson nor Ringo has a chance to keep any of the Vikings’ receivers in check.

The Vikings defense needs to make a statement

As much as the quarterback issue has dominated the Vikings this week, the defense must tighten up against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense. The return of linebacker Blake Cashman is an excellent development as he is the best overall defensive player.

Cashman noted that the Vikings’ defense was mediocre against the run. This is an area where Cashman can have a direct impact.

This will obviously be an issue against the Eagles, who will try to unleash superstar Saquon Barkley. He was dominant last year when he ran for 2,005 yards and averaged 5.8 yards per carry. His numbers are down a lot this season, as he only has 325 receiving yards and is averaging 3.4 yards per attempt. The Vikings can’t let Barkley return to his peak.

“We have to finish off the ball carriers better,” Cashman said. “There’s a lot of leakage yards that we left because we didn’t get to the ball carrier for, say, 4 or 5 yards.”

Cashman doesn’t make spectacular plays, but he is a solid, confident tackler who gives the defense a lot of freedom on offense because he always takes care of his responsibilities. His return is great news for Josh Metellus, who can play any position defensive coordinator Brian Flores asks of him.

Metellus could help the Vikings create takeaways, because that’s what both O’Connell and Flores want to see from the defense. The Vikings did a great job in that area in Week 3 when cornerback Isaiah Rodgers returned both an interception and a fumble for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. Rodgers is a former Eagle, and he wants to show his former team what they miss. He’ll be excited for another big game.

His chances of delivering will likely depend on Jonathan Greenard, Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave and Dallas Turner up front. The Vikings rush has been limited to this point. Jalen Redmond leads the team with 3.0 sacks, while injured pass rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Hargrave have 2.0 each. Turner and Greenard are limited to one sack each, and that must change if the Vikings are going to dominate the Eagles.

Most of the attention may be on the QB position, but the defense will likely determine the outcome of this vitally important game against the Eagles.

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