Vikings ‘really happy’ with quarterback Carson Wentz as J.J. McCarthy’s return gets closer

WARE, ENGLAND – Carson Wentz walked into Hanbury Manor’s posh greenhouse-style room, bathed in the natural light illuminating a 200-acre country club. As Wentz approached the podium for the third time as the Vikings’ starting quarterback, he remarked, “This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever done a press conference.”

Perspective was a theme of Wentz’s weekly Wednesday chat, this time with reporters from the United Kingdom and Minnesota. Wentz discussed his outlook on the offensive line’s injuries, how he views his role with young (and injured) quarterback J.J. McCarthy and how his 10-year journey with six different NFL teams has set him up to juggle all that for a team he joined on Aug. 24.

“There’s a lot to learn every year. Got more kids in almost every stop, makes life a little crazier,” said Wentz, a father to three daughters with a fourth on the way. “I’ve learned a lot both on and off the field, and I’ve been in different roles. I was a starter, been a backup, was a starter and lost my job. I’ve kind of seen it all. For me, that’s helped me have a different perspective and help the team however I can.”

This isn’t new to Wentz. Well, Tuesday’s round of golf on the Hanbury Manor course designed by Jack Nicklaus II was new.

But Wentz will make his 98th NFL start on Sunday against the Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. His experience – or “10,000 hours” as Kevin O’Connell has referenced McCarthy needing to build – has led to adequate production for the head coach.

Even in last week’s loss to the Steelers, in which Wentz threw two interceptions.

“I’ve been really happy with him,” O’Connell said Wednesday. “If you really peel back the layers on it, he’s two tipped-ball interceptions from having a pretty clean sheet and running our offense, helping us score some points. Consistency amongst all 11 guys on offense, regardless of who’s in, is what we’re looking for, because we feel when we do the little things … we can have a good day on offense.”

The Vikings are the NFL’s second-most penalized team. The offense, specifically, has drawn 19 flags, including a league-worst 13 pre-snap penalties like delay of game and false start. Opponents have accepted 37 flags against Minnesota as a team, which has been a focus for coaches during practices.

Whether it’s left tackle Christian Darrisaw flinching too early or replacement center Michael Jurgens, who is also injured now, looking back at Wentz during a protection call and drawing another false start, the Vikings have spread the penalties around as an offense.

“That’s something that unfortunately is biting us,” Wentz said. “I don’t think that’s by any means a center thing; it’s just everybody as a whole. We just got to lock in on all the small things.”

The plan for McCarthy, who has not practiced since sustaining a sprained right ankle in the Sept. 14 loss to the Falcons, is to return to quarterback drills as early as Thursday. O’Connell has declined to answer whether McCarthy will be the starter when he’s healthy.

On Wednesday, O’Connell said McCarthy will return “sooner than later.” O’Connell clarified he wants to see McCarthy in position drills before getting him “real reps” in full-team sessions.

Wentz, the second overall pick in 2016 by the Philadelphia Eagles, said McCarthy has been an asset during his current three-week run as the starter.

“Even last week with Jordan [Addison] coming back,” Wentz said, “asking him like, ‘What does he do well? What are the things – how he is he getting out of breaks, his best routes?’ … Obviously, it’s unfortunate he can’t physically be out there. Been in those shoes many times, but he’s been very locked in, focused and still part of this team in a big way.”

Wentz, 32, was asked how he views his role with McCarthy, who is a decade younger than Wentz and has been pegged as the franchise quarterback.

“I knew that coming in from the moment I got here,” Wentz said. “How can I help this team, which without a doubt would be helping him in any way, shape or form. Obviously, he’s probably been helping me a lot more learning the playbook, learning the guys, all those things, both him and Max [Brosmer].”

Wentz said he’s been helping McCarthy “whether that’s after practice, in the film room, whatever that looks like. I’ve seen a lot of this stuff – the good, the bad and the ugly for a while now, so any insight I can add to help him, he’s been super receptive to that. He wants to learn as much as he can.”