- The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 37-10 on ‘Thursday Night Football.’
- Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz was sacked five times and appeared emotional on the sideline.
- The Vikings are now 2-3 in games started by Wentz, who is filling in for the injured J.J. McCarthy.
Tears filled Carson Wentz’s eyes as he leaned back on the Minnesota Vikings’ bench in the fourth quarter. His walk there was preceded by a helmet toss, which revealed a red forehead – a symbol of his night.
Before that, Wentz had been walloped on back-to-back incompletions that turned the ball over on downs. He laid on the SoFi Stadium ground for a few extra moments as he grabbed at his left hand.
“Yeah, I’m not proud of that,’ Wentz told reporters after the game. ‘I apologize to the equipment guys for that one but yeah, I was in a good amount of pain.”
By game’s end, with the Vikings losing 37-10 to the Los Angeles Chargers on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ Max Brosmer was in at quarterback. He had it easy compared to the other guy.
Wentz, Minnesota’s starter for the past five games, bore the brunt of a barrage from the Chargers defense, which sacked him five times in a rebound effort, albeit against a backup with Vikings Week 1 starter J.J. McCarthy still on the shelf with an ankle injury.
“Yeah, I’ve felt better,” Wentz said. “That was a tough one. Thursday nights are always tough but that was a little extra tough. I’ve felt better but we’re walking, and we’re alright.”
It didn’t help much that the passer entered the Week 8 matchup dealing with an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell noted an overthrown incompletion to Jefferson that a healthy Wentz potentially makes and could have been an explosive play, he said.
Wentz had entered the game 7-0 as a starter on Thursdays.
“Pain is pain. I felt like I could still help this team and find a way to go down and score and all that stuff. We knew that coming into the game that that was going to be part of it but again, that’s the tough part of Thursday night games. We just don’t quite get the chance to recover but that’s no excuse by any means. When I was playing out there, I felt fine.”
The physicality of the previous game, a 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, was a contributing factor, O’Connell said. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw was able to start, but he lasted two drives. Right tackle Brian O’Neil (knee) was not active.
“It just felt like we weren’t good enough in any of our three phases tonight,” O’Connell said.
He added: “Injuries and any other excuse you can find them, we will not be doing that.”
Star receiver Justin Jefferson managed seven catches (11 targets) for 74 yards, but the Los Angeles defense limited his explosive-play ability (his longest catch was 17 yards). The Vikings averaged 3.1 yards per carry on 11 rushing attempts, even in running back Aaron Jones’ return from injured reserve.
The commentary from the broadcast booth was harsh by the pampered standard of announcer analysis, as Prime Video analyst Kirk Herbstreit said, ‘when you’re the captain of the ship, you’re the quarterback, you gotta try to hold some of that emotion in. And I know he’s frustrated, and he’s hurt, but it’s Week (8). There’s a long way to go.’
Wentz finished 15 for 27 with 144 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Vikings are now 2-3 with him as the starter in McCarthy’s stead; the 2024 10th overall pick was the team’s emergency (third-string) quarterback on Thursday.