Sep 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) speaks with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

In his first game in relief of the injured J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz didn't have to do much to help the Minnesota Vikings to a dominant win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He was a caretaker. Based on how head coach Kevin O'Connell talked about McCarthy's health and progress whenever he returns, it sounds like Wentz will continue in a similar role for the Vikings for the foreseeable future.

Huh?

On Monday, O'Connell was asked about McCarthy's job security once he has fully recovered from an ankle injury that will likely keep him out until October. Rather than stump for his young, still-developing quarterback, O'Connell was noncommittal. He made it sound like McCarthy will probably spend some more time on the bench before he becomes the Vikings' starting quarterback again. This, mind you, after McCarthy already effectively had a redshirt year because of knee surgery last season.

More from ESPN's Kevin Seifert:

"First and foremost," O'Connell said, "He's [McCarthy] got to get healthy. And then, I don't think it's one of those things where it's, hey, he's healthy the night before a game, we're going to throw him out there and say, 'Hey, go figure it out' type of thing."

O'Connell would clarify that he wants to see McCarthy fully healthy before throwing him to the wolves again, but this answer still speaks volumes. He also noted this wouldn't be a "soft benching" for McCarthy because he thinks he can learn by watching and spending time around someone more experienced, like Wentz. For a coach who has become renowned for putting quarterbacks in the best possible position to succeed, O'Connell seems to believe the 22-year-old McCarthy still needs some seasoning and time to learn the position.

That's both good and bad news.

It's good in that O'Connell is being cautious with the player who is supposed to be the face of the Vikings' franchise. You don't want to stunt a young quarterback before they've had a chance to develop more confidence in themselves. If they're not ready to play, they're not ready. It's as simple as that. It's bad when, as noted, you realize McCarthy already sat and watched another veteran in Sam Darnold in 2024.

How many young quarterbacks can you think of that needed to spend this much time on the bench when they were healthy? Perhaps this is more upending traditional development expectations, but I can't recall the last raw signal-caller who spent more than a year learning and observing, regardless of their previous circumstances. You usually want your top-10 draft picks, especially quarterbacks, to learn by doing, you know?

It just doesn't happen.

None of this is to say that O'Connell's plan won't work. He has likely forgotten more about quarterback play and development than any of us know altogether. He's earned the benefit of the doubt. That doesn't make these sentiments about McCarthy any less alarming, though. The real test will be how McCarthy responds to this coaching once he recovers. If coach and quarterback are on the same page, maybe this bizarre lack of commitment doesn't really mean anything.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Kevin O’Connell was weirdly noncommittal about J.J. McCarthy’s job security

Reporting by Robert Zeglinski, For The Win / For The Win

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