There won't be many Minnesota Vikings fans who will be the least surprised by the news of who will be the starting quarterback for their Week 8 showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has named Carson Wentz the team's starting quarterback, with Max Brosmer as the backup. That would leave J.J. McCarthy as the emergency third-string quarterback once again.
This will be Wentz's fifth start at quarterback as he has gone 2-2 in his starts. He has thrown for 1,072 yards and five touchdowns to four interceptions this year.
Wentz is coming off a rough start against his old team, the Philadelphia Eagles. He threw for 313 yards and two interceptions, was sacked twice, took multiple hits, and battled through the game injured.
Vikings make the logical move and start Wentz for the Chargers game
As much as Vikings fans are ready for Wentz to take a place on the bench and see McCarthy out there, this is the right move. McCarthy is still recovering from his high-ankle injury, and putting him on the field on a short week does not make sense.
This is also a Vikings team that has a ton of injuries around them that would not help McCarthy out at all. Key offensive linemen like Ryan Kelly and Brian O'Neill have been injured, with Kelly currently sitting on IR with his second concussion of the year.
It's a chance for Wentz to try to potentially end his tenure as the starting quarterback the right way. He found some rhythm against the Eagles by hitting Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison on the out routes. That seems like a strategy in the passing game that appears to be working well.
Expect the Vikings to try to run the ball with Jordan Mason more often, as he's one of the most efficient backs in the NFL with the ball in his hands. It'll be a tough challenge regardless, since they are going across the country on a short week, but it's a game they need to win with the rest of the NFC North winning games.