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The Los Angeles Chargers dominated the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night. The 37-10 loss dropped the Vikings’ record to 3-4.
But much of the postgame talk centered on coach Kevin O’Connell’s decision not to pull quarterback Carson Wentz from the blowout.
Wentz was dealing with some discomfort in his non-throwing shoulder. He was sacked five times on Thursday, which seemed to further aggravate the shoulder he was already nursing. The shoulder issue, along with the score, raised concerns about keeping the veteran quarterback on the field longer than many perceived was necessary.
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell interacts with Carson Wentz (11) on the sideline during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
Wentz grimaced noticeably for most of the game.
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After the game, O’Connell explained his decision to stick with Wentz for most of the game.
“We continue to register [with Wentz]”the coach told reporters. “Maybe get Max [Brosmer] ready to go. tyler [vice president of player health and performance, Tyler Williams] It was coming to me a lot tonight, but each time it seemed to update me on it. Carson was sore to start. Obviously he took quite a few hits, but he was able to do it. “I asked him several times where he was and he said he was fine and wanted to move on.”
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) drops back to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at SoFi Stadium on October 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Gary A. Vásquez/Imagn Images)
“It seemed like it hurt there a couple of times.”
JJ McCarthy was inactive Thursday. The second-year quarterback started the first two games of the season, but has been sidelined since with an ankle injury.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during the second half at SoFi Stadium on October 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Gary A. Vásquez/Imagn Images)
O’Connell noted that McCarthy would return to the starting lineup against the Detroit Lions in Week 9 if he makes a full recovery, NFL Network reported.
Game cameras showed Wentz banging his helmet on the Vikings’ bench in apparent frustration. Wentz later made it clear that the injury ultimately did not hamper his shooting ability.
“I don’t think so,” Wentz said. “I don’t think about throwing wise. Honestly, that’s why I felt confident going in. I felt like I could do my job. I thought I could throw the ball. Fortunately, you don’t need your left shoulder as much to throw the ball. So mechanically, throwing wise, I felt like I could do everything I needed to do.”
Backup quarterback Max Brosmer briefly entered Thursday’s contest, completing three of his four pass attempts in the fourth quarter.
O’Connell acknowledged that he had considered inserting the rookie signal-caller earlier in the game.
“Yes, we did,” O’Connell said. “Carson is a veteran player. He understands, in a way, some of our circumstances tonight. I think it’s very difficult to ask a rookie to come in there for his first performance and have to endure it a little bit for the group.
“I thought about that at different points in the game, but at the same time, the confidence we have in Max and the advantages we see in Max are real. You also don’t want to send him there and force a level of understanding that’s probably beyond a player playing for the first time.”
The Vikings have now lost consecutive games.
