Kevin O'Connell faces seismic decision that could torpedo Vikings season

The Minnesota Vikings are enjoying a much-needed bye week after a long two-week road trip overseas as they try to get back to 100% healthy.

One of the major injuries they have dealt with is to their young starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, as he recovers from a high ankle sprain that has kept him out for three games. Carson Wentz has been his replacement and has gone 2-1 as the starter.

In his two starts, McCarthy has thrown for 301 yards and two touchdowns to three interceptions, adding 50 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground. Nothing glamorous, but was able to go 1-1 as a starter.

Most predictions for when McCarthy would return to the field as the starter have pointed to the Week 7 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. While it appears to remain the intended plan, it may not be as easy a decision as some might think.

The Minnesota Vikings are facing a tough decision on whether to stick with Carson Wentz or let J.J. McCarthy start again at quarterback.

The Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer believes that Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has what is being called “a lot to weigh” on the decision at quarterback. Krammer also mentions that the handoff to McCarthy returning as a starter is “not gonna look as clean.”

“If you are going to make this switch to McCarthy, it’s not gonna look as clean I wouldn’t think, because it didn’t in the first two games. I don’t think you can anticipate him picking up where Carson Wentz left off… Wentz is farther along as a QB, both maturity-wise, in terms of his fundamentals, being just more of a steady presence in that spot.”

Despite injuries at running back and on the offensive line, Wentz has actually performed well as the starter. He's completed 69% of his passes for 759 yards and five touchdowns to two interceptions in three games.

McCarthy did have his struggles through those first two games as he threw a pick-six in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. During his Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons, he was sacked six times, threw two interceptions, and completed only 52% of his passes.

Everyone has to remember that even though McCarthy is in his second year in the NFL, he's operating more like a rookie after sitting out last year with a meniscus injury. It's not going to be smooth with McCarthy, but he needs to go out there and learn to be successful in the future.

A high ankle sprain is nothing to mess with, but the Vikings have been way overly protective of McCarthy to the point that when it rained in London before the Cleveland Browns game, O'Connell didn't allow McCarthy to practice. The worry is that Minnesota will be too cautious and hinder McCarthy's development.

It may not be an easy decision, but the Vikings eventually need to take the bubble wrap off of McCarthy and let him do what he does best: sling the ball and lead his team to a win.

Surprise Bears decision maker preventing Chicago from making trades this year

Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen (L), general manager Ryan Poles (C) and head coach Ben Johnson (R) observe during the Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

In a twist, a surprising Chicago Bears decision maker appears to be impeding the Monsters of the Midway from making major trades this year — so far, at least

Chicago Tribune Bears beat reporter Brad Biggs hopped on 670 AM "The Score" to reveal who exactly has been responsible for the team's reticence to make trades. Instead of general manager Ryan Poles, the issue has been new head coach Ben Johnson.

When asked by "The Score" personality David Haugh why Chicago hasn't made a trade for Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Greg Newsome II or Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Cam Robinson just yet, Biggs explained that the team seems to think the bloom is off the rose in both cases.

Chicago's not eyeing key immediate upgrades — nor should they be

"I don't think Cam Robinson is that guy anymore. There's a reason he has bounced around," Biggs said. "And Greg Newsome probably fell out of favor... The Bears have got playing to put out there. They don't have a ton of guys missing there at corner right now. Newsome's one of those older guys as well, he's been around for a while. So I wouldn't confuse activity for achievement. They've got to put their guys out there, and there guys have got to get better."

Newsome, 25, might be a bit of a sentimental acquisition for Chicago. He was born in the Windy City, and, after a high school stint at Bradenton, Florida's IMG Academy, returned to the city (well, to the city immediately to its north, Evanston) to attend college at Northwestern University, where he was named to an All-Big Ten First Team and The Athletic's All-American Second Team.

Biggs went on to expound on Johnson's thinking with regards to team-building.

"This isn't the 'let's start trading and adding these pieces and go for it' year for them," Biggs said. "This is Year 1 for Ben Johnson. They're trying to figure out who's going to be with them, and whether they're going to need to go out and get players [and where]."

Sport