EAGAN, Minn. — It will never be said that Carson Wentz didn't give everything he had for the 2025 Minnesota Vikings.

After starting five consecutive games and enduring considerable pain in his left, non-throwing shoulder for more than half of the contests, Wentz has been placed on Injured Reserve.

The Vikings announced the move Monday, the same day the team announced it had claimed tight end Ben Sims via waivers.

Wentz first suffered the injury in the first half of Minnesota's Week 5 game against Cleveland in London. He gritted out the second half and led a game-winning drive by going 9-for-9 passing with 71 yards, featuring a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Addison with 25 seconds remaining.

Wentz did his best to rehab during the Week 6 bye and started in Week 7 against Philadelphia, the team that drafted him No. 2 overall in 2016.

The Vikings were unable to mount a comeback in a 28-22 loss to the Eagles and then had to go to Los Angeles to face the Chargers on Thursday Night Football. The short rest and travel didn't help his recovery process.

Determined and relentless, he wore extra bracing on his shoulder (that he had never worn before). Prime Video cameras showed Wentz wincing in pain after multiple plays.

Wentz was sacked five times, and press box statisticians tallied eight quarterback hits by the Chargers. L.A. sent rushers from multiple directions and capitalized on Minnesota being without right tackle Brian O'Neill, as well as missing left tackle Christian Darrisaw for all but nine snaps and tight end Josh Oliver for all but eight.

Despite the adversity, Wentz kept telling Head Coach Kevin O'Connell that he wanted to stay in the game.

With 1:56 remaining, the Vikings subbed in undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who executed four quick passes, completing three for 13 yards, and two handoffs to Zavier Scott for 16 yards to run out the game.

The Vikings went 2-3 in five starts with Wentz, who joined the team as a free agent in late August and was pressed into action in Week 3 after second-year pro J.J. McCarthy suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 against Atlanta.

Minnesota (3-4) returns to action in Week 9 by visiting the Detroit Lions (5-2) for a noon (CT) kickoff on Nov. 2.

Sims returning to Minnesota

The Vikings were awarded Sims after he was placed on waivers by the Packers.

Sims first joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in May 2023. After a solid preseason, he was waived during roster cuts as the Vikings narrowed from 90 players to 53.

The Packers quickly scooped up Sims via waivers in August 2023. Sims played in all 17 games for Green Bay in each of his first two seasons, recording four catches in each campaign.

The 25-year-old has appeared in three games in 2025 but has not been targeted.

Through two-plus seasons, Sims has eight receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets.

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