O’Connell noted that several negative factors came into play in McCarthy’s tough outing against the Falcons in his second start — injuries along the offensive line, his ankle injury, a lack of practice time after the birth of his child — but the coach’s willingness to discuss his bye week sessions with McCarthy on footwork fundamentals didn’t come across as random. That part didn’t sound like a quarterback ready to start Sunday, either.
“He’s an accurate passer,” O’Connell said. “What I have learned about him is when he plays with that ideal base, balance and body position, you’re going to see the ball come out with a lot of revolutions and it’s going to go where he wants it to go.”
O’Connell has wisely — and likely purposely — not given concrete timelines and assessments publicly so that he doesn’t box himself in on deciding how the situation unfolds.
This season began under a complicated premise: A first-year starting quarterback on a veteran team built to win now and become relevant in the playoffs. The picture became muddier with McCarthy’s shaky start and injury.
The organization drafted McCarthy to be a franchise quarterback and the only true way for him to work through growing pains is to gain experience in games. That was the basis for my theory that he would return as the starter this week. A wise friend reminded me that Wentz went 9-for-9 passing with a touchdown on the final drive against one of the NFL’s best defenses to pull off a win against the Cleveland Browns in the most recent game. How do you tell him to take a seat after doing that?
Realistically, O’Connell has a two-week buffer before McCarthy’s status becomes a larger story. Assuming Wentz starts Sunday, a quarterback change seems unlikely next week considering the Vikings will have only one practice day before playing Thursday night in Los Angeles against the Chargers.
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