Carson Wentz fought through pain and frustration on Thursday night, but it wasn’t enough to save the Minnesota Vikings from a tough 37-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Playing with his left shoulder in a brace and clearly struggling with limited strength in his throwing arm, Wentz pushed through what might have been his final start before rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy returns from injury.
Wentz completed 15 of 27 passes for 144 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception, while taking several hard hits that seemed to worsen his shoulder injury. The veteran quarterback’s troubles began early when his passes missed their marks, and the offense repeatedly stalled. The Vikings didn’t manage a single drive longer than 35 yards in the first half. Their only points came from a 54-yard field goal by kicker Will Reichard midway through the second quarter. Reichard later missed another attempt from 53 yards just before halftime.
The Chargers’ defense kept up relentless pressure, sacking Wentz three times before the break. Despite his efforts, the Vikings offense couldn’t find rhythm or consistency. Things got worse in the fourth quarter when Wentz overthrew star receiver Justin Jefferson, leading to an interception by Chargers defender RJ Mickens. Minutes later, he was hit from behind by Troy Dye, fumbling the ball and leaving the field clutching his left arm in visible pain.
Rookie quarterback Max Brosmer entered the game late, completing 3 of 4 passes for just 13 yards, as Minnesota’s offense closed another disappointing night. For Wentz, the loss marked a painful full circle. Just five days earlier, he had lost to his original team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Now he returned to the stadium that was once his home when he played for the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, only to endure one of his toughest games yet.
This season marks Wentz’s fifth team in five years, a journey that’s seen him go from franchise starter to veteran stopgap. His five starts with the Vikings are already more than he made combined during his brief stints with the Rams and Kansas City Chiefs over the past two seasons. Wentz now holds a 2-3 record as Minnesota’s starter, having stepped in after McCarthy’s ankle injury in Week 3.
Coach Kevin O’Connell hinted earlier in the week that McCarthy might have been able to play if the game had been scheduled for Sunday instead of Thursday. The rookie, who was drafted 10th overall in 2024, is expected to return when the Vikings visit the Detroit Lions on November 2. The team is eager to evaluate him after his promising start to the season was cut short.
McCarthy’s story has been one of patience and high expectations. After being selected out of Michigan, he spent most of last year recovering from a knee injury and learning behind Sam Darnold. Named the starter during this year’s training camp, McCarthy showed flashes of potential before his high ankle sprain sidelined him. His upcoming return will mark only his third NFL appearance in two seasons, but Minnesota is counting on him to help revive their offense and possibly spark a late-season turnaround.
As for Wentz, Thursday’s game may have been his final chapter in purple and gold. Despite his effort to keep fighting through injury and adversity, it was clear that his body — and perhaps his luck — had run out. His courage drew respect, but his limitations left the Vikings looking ahead to the future with McCarthy at the helm.
