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NFL·ANALYSIS·September 9, 2026 04:16 PM ET

Carson Wentz gets Sunday's backup job; J.J. McCarthy sits third

O'Connell will reassess the backup spot week to week.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 91 min read
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Head Coach Kevin O'Connell has announced that Carson Wentz will serve as the team's backup QB on Sunday and that J.J. Mc

What happened: Head coach Kevin O'Connell announced the assignments Wednesday ahead of the season opener. The order also appears on the [official depth chart](https://www.vikings.com/news/depth-chart-nfl-regular-season-2026).

Why it matters: The decision leaves McCarthy two spots from the starting role.

What to watch: The next backup designation will show whether Wentz keeps the role beyond the opener.

Sources

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