Vikings backup quarterback Carson Wentz will undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. The Vikings officially placed him on injured reserve Monday afternoon and claimed TE Ben Sims off waivers from the Packers. He spent the 2023 preseason with the Vikings.
With TE Josh Oliver (foot) expected to miss some time, Sims can help fill some of that void.
In a span of five days, Wentz lost against his original team and fell at what was his home stadium during the 2023 season. The Vikings lost 28-22 to the visiting Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday, then never were competitive Thursday in the venue Wentz called home when he was a backup for the Los Angeles Rams.
It was clear from the TV broadcast how much pain Wentz was in, taking hit after hit in the loss vs. the Chargers.
Wentz first suffered the injury in the first half of Minnesota’s Week 5 game against Cleveland in London.
The Vikings went 2-3 in five starts with Wentz, who joined the team as a free agent in late August. He became the starter Week 3 vs. the Bengals after J.J. McCarthy went down with a high ankle sprain.
Now recovered, McCarthy is expected to start once again when the Vikings return to action Sunday at Detroit.