The Minnesota Vikings head coach, Kevin O’Connell, appeared to talk about the team and QB situation on Pat McAfee’s show on the NFL on ESPN on Sept. 23. As we all know, the Minnesota Vikings have faced plenty of uncertainty at quarterback this season, with rookie J.J. McCarthy battling through a high-ankle sprain. That instability prompted the team to make a decisive move to pick up veteran Carson Wentz as a starter. So, when McAfee asked about Carson Wentz and his fit with the Vikings, head coach O’Connell didn’t hold back his opinion on star QB.
“I’ve always been a fan of Carson going back a long way,” O’Connell said. “I was in the division coaching in Washington as a quarterback coach and coordinator when he was playing at an unbelievable level for the Eagles. And then, you know, people forget how good a year he had in Indianapolis.” For O’Connell, Wentz brings more than just a veteran presence to Minnesota.
The head coach further added, “I think now that not only can he help our young quarterback, can really help our whole team. That was really the hope of bringing Carson to Minnesota. And then on top of that, once he arrived here, you start seeing a guy who can still do a lot of things at a really high level at the quarterback position. He’s only 32 years old, which nowadays is young for a quarterback with what Tom [Brady] did and what Aaron [Rodgers] is still doing.”
Kevin O’Connell mentioned it to Carson this past week and to the team, as well as in the postgame press conference. He really sees him as a point guard, a guy who can see the whole field and put the ball in play. Coach also thought Carson played with great fundamentals from the pocket, having a base that allowed him to be grounded and make quick decisions that played right alongside his fast eyes, enabling him to diagnose where to find the vacancies to attack the defense.
Analysis: Kevin O’Connell Believes in Carson Wentz?
To talk about his first game of the 2025 season, Carson Wentz turned in a sharp and composed performance in the Vikings’ win over the Cincinnati Bengals, showing exactly why head coach Kevin O’Connell has praised his veteran presence. The 32-year-old quarterback completed 14 of 20 passes, good for a 70 percent completion rate, while throwing for 173 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, according to ESPN’s game log. Also, his efficiency was highlighted by a 129.8 passer rating, as he operated the offense cleanly and protected the football throughout the afternoon.
What stood out most about Wentz’s outing was the way he set the tone early. On Minnesota’s opening possession, he capped the drive with a touchdown pass to Josh Oliver, which immediately put the Bengals’ defense on its heels. Later, he connected with tight end T.J. Hockenson scored another goal, helping the Vikings establish control of the game before halftime. With the defense generating turnovers and providing favorable field position, Wentz didn’t have to carry the offense alone, yet when called upon, he executed with precision and poise.
Analysts pointed out that Wentz’s performance wasn’t about piling up gaudy numbers, but about delivering the right plays at the right time. Reuters highlighted that Minnesota’s defense dominated and gave Wentz short fields. That means he could stay efficient without taking unnecessary risks. His quick decision-making from the pocket and ability to diagnose defensive gaps mirrored the “point guard” style as O’Connell recently described in interviews.
While the volume of passes was limited, with just 20 attempts in total, Wentz made them count. He avoided turnovers, stayed grounded in his fundamentals, and gave his team exactly what it needed. He definitely has a steady hand at quarterback.
For a player trying to re-establish himself after several rocky years, this performance was an encouraging sign. If Wentz can continue this kind of efficient, mistake-free play against stronger opponents and in tighter game situations, it could go a long way toward proving he still can thrive as a starter in today’s NFL after working as a backup in Kansas City for Patrick Mahomes. Let’s see if Carson does the same offensive magic in the Steelers matchup on Sept. 28.
But before the next Sunday comes close, the excitement for the matchup against the Vikings is already taking centre stage in the Steel City. And the Steelers’ head coach, Mike Tomlin, recently stirred the pot of excitement when he compared Wentz to their Steelers’ 2024 Colts disaster.
Mike Tomlin Speaks About Carson Wentz Before Showdown on Sunday
The Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin, weighed in on the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback situation when he appeared at the press conference on Tuesday. He offered a unique perspective that challenged the usual narrative of instability. Tomlin recalled the Steelers’ Week 4 loss against the Colts when veteran QB Joe Flacco was starting against them, when the Steelers were 3-0 in 2024. So, Tomlin doesn’t want that disaster to happen in 2025 in Week 4 against the Vikings when they also have veteran QB, Carson Wentz.
“I don’t necessarily view it as a negative thing for the Minnesota Vikings, at least in the short term, that Carson is playing for them,” Mike Tomlin said. “We were in a similar situation a year ago; we were playing in Indianapolis. Man, and I commented to the guys, ‘Keep [Anthony] Richardson upright. Don’t put [Joe] Flacco in the game.’ And you know, Flacco ended up in the game.”
Drawing parallels to his own squad, Tomlin pointed out that the Steelers dealt with similar uncertainty at quarterback during the 2024 season. That experience, he noted, revealed that questions under center don’t always have to be a liability. Instead, the way a team rallies and adapts around its signal-caller can often determine whether it sinks or thrives. In his words, uncertainty at quarterback is not inherently damaging. But it’s all about how players and coaches handle the moment that truly matters.
Wentz’s presence in Minnesota, therefore, should not automatically be cast in a negative light. While he may not fit the mold of a long-term franchise quarterback in the eyes of critics, Tomlin suggested that he still offers the Vikings the ability to remain competitive. Teams can find rhythm, build momentum, and even unlock new avenues of success when they embrace the situation instead of resisting it.
Comments 1