As he answered questions from reporters in the Twin Cities for the first time this week, new backup quarterback Carson Wentz couldn’t help but think of how the younger version of himself would feel.
“I grew up cheering for the Vikings,” Wentz said. “It’s kind of surreal.”
Though he had a bunch of different jerseys as a kid, Wentz remembers being a rising star at Century High School in Bismarck, N.D. when legendary quarterback Brett Favre shockingly joined the Vikings and led them to the 2009 NFC championship game
“That was pretty special,” Wentz said. “That was right around the time I was all in.”
After signing with the Vikings as a free agent this week, Wentz is all in once again. He spent the past few months waiting around for the right opportunity to present itself and found it roughly 400 miles from his hometown.
“It beats sitting on the couch,” Wentz said. “I was pretty excited to get the call.”
There was never a doubt in Wentz’s mind that he was going to sign somewhere. That’s why he continued to work out on his own. He wanted to make sure he was ready whenever his phone rang.
“Honestly I didn’t think I’d be waiting this long,” Wentz said. “Just kind of the way it unfolded.”
As competitive as he is at his core, Wentz understands that task at hand. He hasn’t been brought in to compete for the job. He has been brought in to help mentor young quarterback J.J. McCarthy more than anything else.
“He seems great,” Wentz said. “He’s still a kid. He’s 22 years old. I think when I was 22 years old I was gearing up to play for the Bison.”
After starring at North Dakota State in Fargo in college, Wentz was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft. He knows what it’s like to be a face of the franchise. There aren’t many people on the planet that understand what that feels like.
“I’m excited to help him however I can,” Wentz said. “I’ve been in his shoes.”
How exactly does Wentz plan to help McCarthy?
“It comes with feeling out his personality and figuring out what he needs,” Wentz said. “He’s very receptive to ideas. We’re going to work together on that and try to help him get settled in. I think he’ll do a great job.”
Naturally, Wentz is also focused on doing a great job, albeit in a different role than he had early in his career.
“Just willingness to put the team first,” Wentz said. “Whatever that looks like both on the field and off the field.”
As for his fandom for the Vikings, that went out the window as soon as he was selected by the Eagles, and it remained dormant as he bounced around from the Indianapolis Colts to the Washington Commanders to the Los Angeles Rams to the Kansas Chiefs Chiefs.
Now that he’s with the Vikings?
“All of those things are rushing back here this week,” Wentz said. “I’ve got family members and friends back home, and everybody is stoked.”
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) and Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz (11) talk after the Vikings beat Philadelphia, 38-20 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
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