A Vikings Mini-Legend Returns

Dustin Baker |

Dec 28, 2021

Kyle Sloter

Kirk Cousins has a broken rib, Sean Mannion has the coronavirus, and rookie Kellen Mond is evidently incredibly raw with his development.

So, the Minnesota Vikings are signing Kyle Sloter, a folklorish quarterback who spent portions of the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons with the team. After that, Sloter played for the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and Las Vegas Raiders. He started his career with the Denver Broncos.

The #Vikings have signed QB Kyle Sloter to the active roster.

T Rick Leonard has been signed to the practice squad. TE Brandon Dillon and WR Damion Ratley have been released from the practice squad. https://t.co/rHG05ihdgM pic.twitter.com/jMzcRcNZZI
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 28, 2021

Sloter has a cult following of fans, chiefly because he performed phenomenally in 2018 and 2019 preseason games for Minnesota. While Sloter has dazzled onlookers in preseason games and played for six NFL franchises, the 27-year-old has never attempted a single pass of regular season football.

Kyle Sloter — Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

He was an undrafted commodity from Southern Mississippi in the 2017 draft cycle. Sloter’s production was so wonderful in the 2018 preseason that some fans bemoaned Kirk Cousins’ then-new contract because Sloter should’ve been “the guy” for the Vikings. That was a fringe thought — but it was out there in the Vikings digital stratosphere, rest assured.

Sloter is unlikely to experience his first-ever regular season snap with the 2021 Vikings. Cousins has never missed a football game because of injury. Sean Mannion should return to his QB2 job soon following COVID recovery. And Kellen Mond is a rookie with a plateful of upside.

However, something about Sloter intrigues the Vikings. He hasn’t been a part of the franchise since 2019 — a long separation in sports terms.

With Cousins at quarterback — and perhaps Sloter as QB2 or QB3 — the Vikings travel to Green Bay for a date with the Packers in Week 17.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).