Deadlines drive results, and the Minnesota Vikings are on the clock to salvage their season.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has yet to make a definitive call on who will be the team’s starter for the rest of the season, with both Carson Wentz (shoulder) and J.J. McCarthy (ankle) limited with injuries. He admitted that he is going to start whichever quarterback is in the best condition to help the team win on Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers (which could be undrafted rookie Max Brosmer at this point).
The Wentz experiment has run its course. He threw two interceptions, including a pick-six, in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and has shown erratic accuracy and questionable decision-making. Wentz is nothing more than a backup quarterback at this stage of his career. But if McCarthy’s ankle injury continues to be fickle, the Vikings need a capable veteran backup who can help shoulder the team’s playoff ambitions.
Two weeks from the NFL trade deadline on November 4, you know whose name has resurfaced as a fit for Minnesota, who has made trades the past three seasons with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at the helm.
On Tuesday, October 21, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio made the inquisition that the Vikings make a move to acquire Kirk Cousins from the Atlanta Falcons.
“By November 4, the Falcons could be willing to move Cousins out. And the Vikings could be willing to move Cousins in,” Florio wrote. “Frankly, a move like that could be the only chance the Vikings have to end their current trend of failing to make the playoffs in back-to-back years. They last qualified for the postseason in consecutive years in 2008 and 2009.”
It’s Max Brosmer or Kirk Cousins Who Can Salvage Vikings’ Season
While the Vikings are 3-3 on the season, they are last in the NFC North standings and have just a 10% chance of making the playoffs, per The Athletic’s playoff predictor.
The Vikings have continued to weigh Wentz and McCarthy as their only two options to a fault. Wentz has been inconsistent, and McCarthy has been consistently injured.
That leaves Brosmer as a potential Hail Mary against the Chargers on Thursday if Wentz, currently dealing with a shoulder injury, cannot play.
However, in the long run, Wentz has proved he’s not the answer. Cousins is among the few veteran quarterbacks seemingly available who could step in midseason and do a better job than Wentz. Cousins, at his best, is capable of helping the Vikings get out of their early-season rut and make a run late in the season.
That may be needed if McCarthy’s health continues to be a concern.
JJ McCarthy Can Put Kirk Cousins Trade Rumors to Rest
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before facing the Chicago Bears.
As Cousins’ name continues to produce trade fodder ahead of the league deadline, McCarthy can cross off Minnesota as a potential destination quickly — but he has to play.
McCarthy is considered a long shot to play on Thursday against the Chargers, but a Week 9 matchup against the Detroit Lions is grounds for him to return after missing six weeks.
What happens in that game will have a heavy sway on how the Vikings will approach the trade deadline with 48 hours to make a deal.
This is under the condition that McCarthy is ready to play before the trade deadline, which has not been as cut and dry as previous reports indicated.
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