Carson Wentz will start at QB for the Vikings vs. the Eagles on Sunday

Quarterback Carson Wentz will make a fourth consecutive start for the Vikings on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Friday.

Wentz has been a full participant in practices this week despite a left shoulder injury that briefly knocked him out of the Oct. 5 victory against the Browns in London. In three starts, he has a 2-1 record and has averaged 253 passing yards per game while completing nearly 70% of his passes, throwing five touchdowns to two interceptions.

Wentz had “a good week of practices,” O’Connell said, while taking snaps from Blake Brandel, who will start at center.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is officially listed questionable to play, but he will be the emergency No. 3 quarterback. Rookie Max Brosmer will again be Wentz’s backup.

“I was really proud of the work he put in as he kind of continues to push through the later stages of this rehab,” O’Connell said of McCarthy. “I feel good about him being available.”

“We went into the last game with two” quarterbacks, O’Connell said, “and we didn’t feel like that was the smartest thing to do, and feel good about where [McCarthy] would be at if he had to play.”

McCarthy said Wednesday that his right high ankle sprain is still not 100% healthy. He revealed that he was given second medical opinions that gave him multiple recovery timelines, including up to six weeks.

McCarthy “got a ton of reps,” O’Connell said, with both the first-team offense and the scout team, which mimics the week’s opponent for the starting defense.

“Some real good reps with that look team of feeling the rush of [Jonathan] Greenard, [Dallas] Turner, [Javon] Hargrave and [Jonathan] Allen,” O’Connell said, “and really working on some things that are really starting to come to fruition. I was proud of the way he attacked the week. I know he knows he is not quite all the way there yet. He’s progressing in a really good way.”

The Eagles drafted Wentz with the No. 2 overall pick in 2016 out of North Dakota State. He spent five years in Philadelphia before he was traded to the Colts after the 2020 season. He has faced the Eagles only one other time since his departure, losing in 2022 with the Commanders.

Wentz, 32, said that his Eagles tenure feels like “multiple lifetimes ago,“ adding that he is grateful for his time in Philadelphia.

“Maybe earlier in my career I would’ve had a different feeling,” said Wentz, who signed with the Vikings on Aug. 24. “But you look over there and I’m not even sure there’s anybody on the defensive side that I’ve played with.”