Former Vikings QB Signs with Colts
Brett Rypien has hopped, skipped, and jumped from the Minnesota Vikings to the Cincinnati Bengals to the Indianapolis Colts so far in 2025.
The Indianapolis Colts took the plunge this week with a Minnesota Vikings quarterback who had hoped to latch on as the QB2 or QB3 in 2025.
The veteran passer didn’t quite work out in Minnesota or Cincinnati, but with any luck, Rypien will have some rest-of-season staying power in Indianapolis, a team considered one of the best in the NFL through six weeks.
Colts Add Ex-Vikings Passer Brett Rypien
Rypien continues his NFL journey in the AFC South.
Brett Rypien Signs with 3rd Team in 51 Days
Rypien has a new employer. NBC Sports‘ Charean Williams wrote Tuesday, “The Colts needed a third quarterback after placing Anthony Richardson on injured reserve this week. They got one on Tuesday. The Colts are signing Brett Rypien to their practice squad, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.”
“Rypien, 29, joined the Bengals’ practice squad in late August, and they elevated him to the active roster as Jake Browning’s backup after Joe Burrow went on season-ending injured reserve. The Bengals released Rypien last week after trading for Joe Flacco. Rypien has appeared in 11 games with four starts with the Broncos, Rams and Bengals since 2020. He signed with Denver as an undrafted rookie in 2019.”
Rypien is now third in line if disaster strikes. Daniel Jones has held down the fort at a faux MVP pace, and Riley Leonard is the QB2.
A Running Mate alongside Daniel Jones
Indianapolis already employs a former purple passer, and his name is Daniel Jones.
The Vikings scooped Jones midseason in 2024 after the New York Giants cut ties, and Jones lived on the team’s practice squad for the remainder of the regular season, promoted to the active roster for the club’s unfortunate playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Then, when the offseason arrived, Jones surveyed the lay of the land in Minnesota at quarterback and around the NFL, deciding that the Colts had a winnable QB1 post available. He was right. Jones took down Anthony Richardson in a summer quarterback competition.
Now, the man is a fringe MVP candidate. Rypien will be in the mix as the emergency quarterback if anything happens to Jones.
Rypien’s Career to Date
Minnesota found Rypien last year when the Chicago Bears cut him, even re-signing him during the 2025 offseason to contend for a QB2 or QB3 gig. Head coach Kevin O’Connell later settled on Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer as backups for J.J. McCarthy, rendering Rypien expendable.
Here’s Rypien’s NFL resume to date:
- Denver Broncos (2019–2022)
- Los Angeles Rams (2023)
- Seattle Seahawks (2023)
- New York Jets (2023)
- Chicago Bears (2024)
- Minnesota Vikings (2024-2025)
- Cincinnati Bengals (2025)
- Indianapolis Colts (2025)
Rypien has started four games as a pro, with his teams accruing a 2-2 record on his watch while posting a 4-touchdown to 9-interception split.
Cincinnati offloaded Rypien last week when it shockingly traded for Joe Flacco, a deal with the division rival Cleveland Browns.
Role in Indianapolis
Rypien will likely get the nod as Indianapolis’ emergency quarterback on Sundays, not unlike Max Brosmer in Minnesota when McCarthy and Wentz are fully healthy.
His path to playing time is slim this season, though injuries have been prevalent around the business. Vikings fans can tell you all about it.
The easiest way to think of Rypien’s new role is insurance. He’s the last line of defense behind Jones and Leonard. The aforementioned Richardson suffered a strange pre-game injury in Week 6.
The Athletic on Rypien to Indy
James Boyd of The Athletic opined on the Rypien addition, “Rypien will enter a Colts quarterback room that includes starter Daniel Jones and rookie sixth-round pick Riley Leonard. Jones and Rypien were teammates in Minnesota last year after Jones was released by the Giants and joined the Vikings’ practice squad.”
“The Vikings eventually waived Rypien in favor of Jones when they promoted Jones to their active roster. Colts coach Shane Steichen will have the final say on whether Rypien or Leonard will be Indy’s backup in its upcoming road game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the source said.”
Indianapolis would have a first-round bye in the postseason if the tournament were to start today.
“Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said Tuesday, hours before the team struck a deal with Rypien, that he’d do whatever is necessary to get a potential newbie up to speed. Rypien does not appear to have any direct ties to the Colts franchise or its coaching staff,” Boyd added.
“However, Rypien’s uncle, Mark, was the backup QB to Colts legend Peyton Manning in 2001 and appeared in four games. Mark Rypien was also a two-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl champ and the 1991 Super Bowl MVP with Washington.”
Rypien turned 29 during the summer and put together a fantastic preseason showing with the Bears in 2024. That was not replicated in Minnesota a couple of months ago. Rypien played buffoonishly in the exhibition games, and by the time roster trimdowns rolled around, his exodus was a no-brainer.
You must be logged in to post a comment.