The short week made it inevitable, but Carson Wentz got the start under center for the Minnesota Vikings against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. J.J. McCarthy dressed as the emergency third quarterback for the second straight week, and it seems likely he'll start in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions.
With how he looked for most of two games, skeptics haven't been able to let go of the idea that McCarthy's ankle injury is being used as an excuse for a "soft benching." Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has made it clear about what he needs to see from his young quarterback, and recovery from a high ankle sprain is not always a linear process.