After a loss like the Minnesota Vikings had in Week 7, it can be good to have a short turnaround, and that's just what they'll get when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers Thursday night to kick off Week 8.
Of course, the overriding question surrounding the Vikings is the quarterback situation. J.J. McCarthy will be the starter when he's healthy, and he's now approaching the end of a 4-to-6-week window to recover from the high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2.
Minnesota Head coach Kevin O'Connell has made it clear McCarthy will need to have a full, unencumbered week of practice before he takes back the starting job.
Carson Wentz's rough performance against the team that drafted him on Sunday has some people wondering if that might change on a short week, or if undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will get a chance to start.
However, one thing has become absolutely clear. Any idea that Wentz would keep the starting job after McCarthy is healthy is out the window.
After the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, O'Connell, as expected, chose the vague route when asked about his quarterback situation heading into the short week. Immediately declaring Wentz will start against the Chargers, when all signs point that way under the circumstances, would've been too easy.
ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms what some expected about the Minnesota Vikings starting QB for Week 8
During his usual Monday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show", ESPN's Adam Schefter shared whether he thinks McCarthy will return as the Vikings' starter when he's healthy.
"My understanding is with Carson Wentz and J.J., the Vikings play a short week this week", Schefter said. "They have the Chargers this week. I would expect that we get Carson Wentz on Thursday night. I was told there's a chance that J.J. McCarthy would be ready for the week after, at Detroit."
Schefter then went a little further.
"Again, I think if Carson Wentz comes back and plays well and they win the game Thursday night, maybe that buys J.J. another week. If not, then I think J.J. could be back as soon as that week at Detroit."
The Vikings beating the Chargers on Thursday night with Wentz under center could "buy" McCarthy another week? As in, he might not return until Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens?
Nothing should be considered out of the realm of possibility if McCarthy's ankle injury continues to linger. But Wentz's performance against the Chargers, and the result of the game, should have no bearing on whether McCarthy starts against the Lions.
He will be seven weeks removed from the injury at that point. The "mini bye" after Thursday night should foster the required full week of practice he needs in order to be deemed ready to start.
If McCarthy isn't definitively in line to start against the Lions in Week 9, a different set of questions will move to the forefront. O'Connell surely won't want to answer those, so ideally McCarthy is good to go all the way around, and the vague scenario Schefter invited is rendered moot.