5 Options for Vikings at QB after Carson Wentz Injury
J.J. McCarthy will start for the Minnesota Vikings this weekend and beyond, with Max Brosmer filling the QB2 role. And with Carson Wentz out for the season on injured reserve, the team is guaranteed to sign another quarterback or trade for one before next week’s deadline.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz is out for the season with a bad shoulder, and these are five options for a QB in addition to J.J. McCarthy.
The signing could be bland — a player most of the world has never heard of. It could be splashy via trade. Or it may be right in the middle.
Here’s a peek at the options, listed in ascending order of likelihood.
Vikings Options at QB3 after Carson Wentz Development
This list is a bit quirky.
Honorable Mention: Jimmy Garoppolo
How to Get Him: Trade | Late-Round Pick
The Los Angeles Rams have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, which is actually quite rare, believe it or not.
Those men are Matthew Stafford, who is conducting an MVP-caliber season, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Stetson Bennett. If there’s a world where Sean McVay trusts Bennett with the QB2 job, the Vikings could dangle a late-round pick for Garoppolo and let the chips fall.
The mentality here would be that Minnesota needs a seasoned veteran like Garoppolo — not some inexperienced free-agent passer.
5. Case Keenum
How to Get Him: Trade | Late-Round Pick
While the Bears and Vikings rarely engage in trade business, there’s a small chance, albeit minuscule, that Minnesota could acquire Keenum, the team’s savior in 2017.
Keenum is 37 nowadays, and will turn 38 in a few months, but like Garoppolo, if Minnesota craves a veteran presence, well, they don’t get much more veteran than Keenum, aside from Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco, who are not available.
Remember, too, the utopian scenario is that the quarterback to be signed this week won’t even play. He’s just insurance and a calming aura behind McCarthy and Brosmer. That can be Keenum.
It’s worth noting that Keenum and Kevin O’Connell worked together in Washington.
The Viking Age‘s Adam Patrick on Keenum: “Adding someone like Keenum to the quarterback room would also be a move that shows the Vikings are committed to helping McCarthy as much as possible. No one would think that Minnesota would trade for Keenum to come in and compete with McCarthy for the starting job.”
“But the veteran passer has been in the NFL since 2012, and he’s spent the last handful of years helping with the development of some of the league’s most notable quarterbacks like Williams, Stroud, Baker Mayfield, and Josh Allen.”
Of course, the Bears may not pick up the phone at all, possibly refusing to assist a division foe.
Patrick added, “He still has value to add to a team, even if his on-field abilities aren’t anywhere close to where they were when he was last in purple. Keenum created a ton of fun memories during his previous stint with the Vikings, and if the team were to acquire him before next week’s trade deadline, there’s a chance that he could help McCarthy become the next quarterback to create iconic moments for the franchise.”
4. Dorian Thompson-Robinson
How to Get Him: Free Agency
Minnesota can sign Thompson-Robinson today if it’s in the mood. “DTR” remains a free agent after failing to find staying power in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
Thompson-Robinson has started five games in the NFL, attempting 230 passes along the way. He doesn’t have the experience of Garoppolo or Keenum, but he also isn’t totally green like Brosmer. Previously, Minnesota brought Thompson-Robinson in for a workout.
3. John Wolford
How to Get Him: Free Agency
Wolford hasn’t taken a live snap since the 2022 regular season, but he did spend most of his anonymous career with the Los Angeles Rams, familiar with Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell’s style.
In fact, Wolford and O’Connell crossed paths on the 2020 and 2021 Rams teams when O’Connell offensively coordinated McVay’s team.
2. Desmond Ridder
How to Get Him: Free Agency
Minnesota had Ridder in the building when Wentz initially injured his shoulder. Truth be told, it should’ve kept him aboard for a scenario like this one —when Wentz was lost for the season.
Ridder has started 18 games in the pros, with over 4,000 passing yards to his name. If O’Connell maintains his stance of not wanting Brosmer to see the field in a meaningful game, it’s time to re-sign Ridder.
1. Brett Rypien
How to Get Him: Indianapolis Colts’ Practice Squad
Rypien spent the offseason in Minnesota, played terribly in the preseason, got cut amid roster trimdowns, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, and was released when Cincinnati traded for Joe Flacco a couple of weeks ago.
Catch all that?
If one assumes O’Connell trusts Rypien more than Ridder, Rypien is the top option as QB2 or QB3 behind McCarthy and Brosmer. He knows the offense; he spent five months studying it this year.
Rypien is 29 years old and has attempted 168 passes in the NFL since 2020.
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