The Vikings Need a Backup Quarterback
Technically, the Minnesota Vikings have three backup quarterbacks. J.J. McCarthy is entrenched as the starter, and he’ll debut this weekend during the first preseason action. Behind him remains a significant question mark, and Kevin O’Connell can’t currently feel great.
The Minnesota Vikings are ready to roll with J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback this season, but Kevin O’Connell’s backup is in question.
Last year, the Minnesota Vikings brought in Sam Darnold despite having drafted McCarthy. The expectation was that one would emerge as the starter, and the other would present a high-quality backup option. This time around, they tried to keep Daniel Jones, but he opted to play for the Indianapolis Colts.
Perhaps Jones realized he would never surpass McCarthy, and the writing was on the wall. That said, the Vikings still needed a veteran option, and they traded for former Washington Commanders starter Sam Howell during the NFL Draft. It has been presumed he would operate as QB2, but training camp has revealed that it may be a mistake.
It’s Time for the Vikings to Explore Extra QB2 Options
Both Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer are also on the roster. The former has plenty of fans within the organization, but he has never proven capable of anything at the professional level. The latter is the best quarterback in Minnesota Gophers history, but he is incredibly raw and will need time to develop into a capable option.
All of that equals a reality where there is no certainty of any kind behind McCarthy. After he suffered a season-ending injury a year ago, the hope is that he can be healthy for all 17 games this time around. That’s not a guarantee, though, and how he fares in game action is something we have yet to see any real proof of.
The prevailing belief is that Minnesota may not have its backup quarterback on the roster. Players will get cut or traded in the lead-up to the regular season. Maybe one of Cleveland’s seventy-five options will present itself as a fit for the Vikings. The Atlanta Falcons may decide to just eat money to move Kirk Cousins. No matter who it is, though, a battle-tested veteran makes a legitimate amount of sense.
Kevin O’Connell is ready to take the training wheels off McCarthy. The Vikings’ young new signal caller will be given everything he can handle this year. A benching is less probable than a potential injury. That said, a roster designed to win now must have a fallback option as well.
Right now they don’t.
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