Even if JJ McCarthy is close to a return, it will not take place this week against his university head coach.
Carson Wentz will make his fifth straight start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, led by former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, in Inglewood, California.
“JJ, the medical staff, myself, we’re all kind of encouraged by where he’s at and the progress he’s making, but he’s just not there,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “If it was a Sunday game, it might be a little different story.”
Wentz’s time filling in for McCarthy, who is dealing with a sprained ankle, has been mixed. He held the Vikings (3-3) to the .500 mark he inherited, winning two of his four starts while throwing for 1,072 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.
Last week, Wentz completed a season-low 61.9 percent of his passes and had no touchdowns and two picks in a 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. However, he threw for 313 yards.
Asked about McCarthy’s imminent return as early as next week, Wentz denied thinking about it.
“The mindset is to go win this game, ultimately,” Wentz said. “I focus on the here and now. I don’t have a lot of time or energy to think beyond this one.”
After the Vikings were clipped by Jalen Hurts for 326 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, they will face another prolific passer on Thursday. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is coming off a career-best 420 yards passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions in a 38-24 road loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Much of these statistics can be attributed to the outstanding performance of Oronde Gadsden II. The rookie tight end scored his first career touchdown Sunday while rushing for 164 yards on seven catches, more than in his first four NFL games combined.
“Very talented,” Harbaugh said of Gadsden. “…Just a lot of drive and talent.”
Despite being hit by an NFL-leading 62 dropbacks, Herbert now leads the league in passing yards (1,913) and is tied for sixth in passing touchdowns (13).
His impressive performance, however, couldn’t prevent Los Angeles from suffering its third loss in the last four games. After a 3-0 start that included a sweep of their AFC West opponents, the Chargers (4-3) are now tied for second in the division with the Kansas City Chiefs (4-3), behind the Denver Broncos (5-2).
The potential good news for Los Angeles is that Herbert could get his left tackle back this week. Joe Alt, who moved from right tackle to left when Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending injury in training camp, was a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice. Harbaugh called him questionable after Alt missed the last three games with an ankle injury.
“He does everything he can to (play),” Harbaugh said.
Alt’s return would be a big help against a Vikings defense that ranks seventh in pass defense (184.0 yards per game) and allowed more than 200 passing yards for the first time last week.
For Minnesota, guard CJ Ham (hand) and offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (knee) were the only two players who did not practice Tuesday. McCarthy, running back Zavier Scott (wrist) and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) were limited, as was running back Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) as his 21-day practice window for a return opened. Wentz (left shoulder) was a full participant.
Along with Alt, Chargers offensive tackle Austin Deculus (ankle), guard/tackle Trey Pipkins III (knee), linebacker Troy Dye (thumb), offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer (knee) and defensive back Elijah Molden (thumb) were limited Tuesday. Running back Hassan Haskins (hamstring) and defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell (illness) did not practice.
–Field level media
