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Justin Jefferson Reacts to Carson Wentz Taking Over After J.J. McCarthy Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 8:46 AM ET

As has frequently been the case in recent years, Minnesota Vikings superstar receiver Justin Jefferson gets to team up with a new starting quarterback.

The Vikings have started seven quarterbacks since Jefferson entered the league in 2020, and journeyman backup Carson Wentz will join the club in Week 3. Wentz, who signed with Minnesota in August, is expected to start against the Cincinnati Bengals after J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle injury.

Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Jefferson noted that the 32-year-old Wentz is at least experienced. Wentz is 47-46-1 over 94 career starts dating back to 2016, though he’s only started once each of the last two seasons.

“This is just another game to him,” Jefferson said, “and of course, him being able to be in practice last week and have a couple reps with the ones last week.

“It’s really just another day out there with another quarterback,” Jefferson added.

Why Justin Jefferson’s Carson Wentz Comments Caught Our Attention

Jefferson seemingly downplaying the change from McCarthy to Wentz is unsurprising, and he even noted the “next man up” philosophy. However, it’s nonetheless intriguing to hear Jefferson opt for a more casual approach rather than overly talk up Wentz ahead of his Vikings debut.

Maybe that’s for the best, though. Jefferson is no stranger to playing with backup quarterbacks, and this isn’t an instance of a player making their first start. Wentz arrived in the NFL as a Day 1 starter, and he’s played in postseason games. We’re nearing a point, if we’re not already there, where Wentz is becoming the league’s next Colt McCoy or Matt Cassel; he can fill in if needed, but he’s likely not someone you want to start for multiple games.

Perhaps Jefferson saying too much here would have raised some red flags. Wentz’s resume speaks for itself, even if he hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2022. No one, not the Vikings nor Wentz, needs the face of the franchise to give their new quarterback a public vote of confidence.

All eyes will be on the Vikings on Sunday afternoon, even if the Wentz-Jake Browning duel isn’t exactly the McCarthy-Joe Burrow matchup we envisioned. We’ll see what Jefferson says following the game, especially if he and Wentz lack the chemistry needed to beat the Bengals.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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