ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports the Vikings’ decision to re-sign Carson Wentz “doesn’t move the needle about whether the team ultimately moves on from J.J. McCarthy.

20 March 2026

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but in case there were any questions about Wentz impacting McCarthy, those can now be laid to rest. Seifert reports the decision to bring back Wentz is “about avoiding the depth emergencies” the Vikings experienced at QB in 2023 and 2025, which resulted from multiple injuries at the position. Wentz, 33, appeared in five games for the Vikings last season, going 2-3 as a starter while throwing for 1,216-6-5 on 169 attempts. A shoulder injury permanently sidelined him for the season after a Week 8 loss to the Chargers, but Wentz should be good to go at the start of next season, and could open the season as high as QB2 on the depth chart — assuming Kyler Murray wins the starting job.