Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz, who has started the past five games while J.J. McCarthy recovers from an ankle sprain, was not seen during a practice viewing period open to reporters Monday at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.
Wentz appeared in pain several times throughout Thursday night’s loss to the Chargers at Los Angeles. He was sacked five times and said after the game that it was “quite possibly” the worst pain he has played through in his professional career, but he maintained that he believed he could still contribute despite it.
Wentz, 32, suffered a left, non-throwing shoulder injury against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 5 in London that has had him in a sling and sleeve the past two games.
He wore a bulkier apparatus against the Chargers and said he had “never worn anything remotely close to” it. Wentz wore the special sleeve during Wednesday walk-through, he said.
“I asked him multiple times where he was at,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said after Thursday’s game, also noting Wentz had soreness coming into the game off the short week of recovery. “He said he was good and wanted to keep going. It did seem like he was in pain there a couple of times, a few times.”
Wentz has completed 110 passes out of 169 attempts for 1,216 yards and six touchdowns with five interceptions this season. He has taken 19 sacks as the Vikings have also faced injury trouble on their offensive line. Against the Chargers, they were missing both starting tackles.
McCarthy and rookie Max Brosmer were both at practice Monday, which was a bonus practice for the Vikings off their mini-bye after the Thursday night game.
McCarthy, who was injured against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, returned to practice two weeks ago before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles but has yet to be marked as a full participant in any practice session.