Sep 30, 2022; Thundridge, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings quarterback David Blough (12) throws the ball during practice at Hanbury Manor. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
Some ex-Vikings QBs have already signed with their 2023 team. Taylor Heinicke, a former fan favorite in Minnesota, will join the Atlanta Falcons after three seasons with the Washington franchise. He will battle Desmond Ridder and possibly a rookie for the starting spot.
Case Keenum returned to the Houston Texans, where he spent the first two years of his career and some additional time in 2014. He will likely back up the second-overall pick in the upcoming draft in his rookie season. Former first-rounder Teddy Bridgewater remains unsigned. The Vikings returned Nick Mullens as Kirk Cousins’ backup for another season.
Another former Vikings passer, even if he didn’t have a prolific time like Bridgewater and Keenum in Minnesota, David Blough, will return to the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent time in 2022. They have agreed to terms on a one-year deal.
Blough a QB of the Detroit Lions for a while after he entered the league undrafted out of Purdue. His first stint, however, was with the Cleveland Browns, who traded him after his first preseason to the Lions. The QB then spent three seasons in Detroit as a backup for Matthew Stafford. On Thanksgiving in 2019, Blough was named starter against the Bears because Stafford and backup Jeff Driskel were hurt. His first NFL completion was a 75-yard touchdown to Kenny Golladay.
One week later, in Week 14, he faced the Vikings and finished the game with one touchdown and two interceptions in a losing effort. In seven games for the Lions, including five starts, Blough passed for only 4 touchdowns and had 7 interceptions.
Following the 2022 preseason, the Lions waived him to get down to their 53-man roster and to make room for former Eagles QB Nate Sudfeld. The Vikings added Blough to their practice squad as the virtual QB3 behind Cousins and Mullens. Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson credited Blough for his big debut game a few days after joining the Vikings. Blough helped Hockenson with the playbook.
On December 14, the Cardinals signed him off the Vikings practice squad after Kyler Murray’s knee injury, where he started the final two games of the season — a close loss against the Falcons and a blowout loss against the 49ers after Colt McCoy was out with a concussion and Trace McSorley, the third QB on the roster didn’t show any NFL throwing ability. Blough scored twice and was picked off twice in the two games combined.
The quarterback room in Arizona is the same as last year. Murray, the franchise quarterback, is hurt with a torn ACL, and it is possible that he will miss a good part of the 2023 season. McCoy returns as the backup and should be considered the favorite to start in Murray’s absence. McSorley is a free agent.
Barring another addition, Blough should be McCoy’s backup to start the season. Former head coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired, and the team is now coached by former Vikings assistant and Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt