Get to Know This Man for the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings’ big savior at quarterback is in on deck to miss 18 of his first 20 career games.
J.J. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with a busted meniscus and won’t play for the next two to four weeks with a high ankle sprain.
The Vikings have J.J. McCarthy for the foreseeable future, and it’s important to remember one upstart man’s name for the next few weeks.
The club will presumably turn to Carson Wentz until McCarthy has healed, but it’s important to remember one name if Wentz struggles or encounters an injury: Max Brosmer.
Max Brosmer Will Get Very Popular Soon if the Situation Arises
The Vikings’ season has bent in unexpected directions.
The QB3 Suddenly Became Important
McCarthy is out; he will not be available against the Jake Browning-led Cincinnati Bengals.
That means Carson Wentz will take over this weekend. And if Wentz flounders — he’s done a lot of that in the last five years — Minnesota would not stubbornly cling to him as a committed option at QB1. Prolonged struggles from Wentz or immediate ineptitude would force head coach Kevin O’Connell to try Brosmer on for size, a man who stood off the page in the preseason.
Max Brosmer’s Preseason Gems
Nobody expected much from Brosmer at training camp or in the preseason. As a UDFA, he could’ve been perceived as a camp body, with practice squad upside.
Then the guy balled out in each preseason game, delivering poise beyond his age and layered throws galore. Some prominent Vikings accounts began to whisper that he looked better than McCarthy.
Well, Minnesota is one Wentz injury or trashy game away from Brosmer attempting to translate his preseason godliness to the bright lights of the regular season.
The Brock Purdy Theory
Meanwhile, the snazzy Brock Purdy is already circulating, courtesy of some fans. That is — like the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, Minnesota will “stumble” onto Brosmer as a success story and long-term starter like San Francisco, with J.J. McCarthy filling the Trey Lance role, a player with such magnificent potential who just never panned out due to injury and otherwise.
Of course, McCarthy would vehemently disagree with the theory, but it’s out there nevertheless. A lot must happen for Brosmer to shapeshift into Purdy, along with McCarthy going the way of Lance.
Until proven otherwise, though, the idea will maintain little legs.
Brosmer’s Scouting Report
The Draft Network‘s Damian Parson on Brosmer before this year’s draft: “Brosmer throws with a quick, snappy release to maximize timing efficiency. Mechanically, he is very sound and refined. He generates good force with an engaged core and hip rotation. Brosmer keeps his shoulders and back straight, even when passing the ball. His upper and lower bodies are tied together and aligned to his target.”
“Brosmer has clean and fluid throwing mechanics that boost his efficiency and accuracy. Brosmer has plus-level arm talent with good velocity to rip throws into tight windows. He has the arm to access the middle of the field without much restriction or hesitation. He can push the ball vertically across the middle of the field and outside the numbers. Brosmer has access to the entire field as a passer.”
He turned 24 in March.
“Athletically, he is functional. Brosmer showcases the ability to create with his legs if given an escape route out of the backfield. He was effective on QB zone reads when dialed up. Brosmer comfortably makes throws on the move, like, bootlegs, sprint outs, and launch point movement throws,” Parson continued.
“Brosmer displays a high football IQ. He reads and identifies pre-snap and post-snap coverages well. He does a nice job reading the safeties pre-snap to determine the coverage outcomes to expect post-snap. He has a good feel for the game and anticipated throws before the receiver finishes their break. Brosmer is a pocket navigator. He is efficient at climbing the pocket vs edge pressure and finding throwing lanes.”
O’Connell said about Brosmer last month: “He was really impressive last week. You felt the veteran presence and the command. He’s really smart. A guy that’s played a lot of football and he’s been able to get himself to a place where he’s felt very comfortable these past two weeks had he needed to go in the football game.”
“Now he’ll get a week of preparation to get ready to go play. He’s going to be a snap away and I know Max will be prepared.”
SI.com on Wentz and Brosmer
Will Ragatz of SI.com noted on Monday: “Carson Wentz has a chance to show the world he’s still got it when he starts for the Minnesota Vikings in place of injured quarterback J.J. McCarthy in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. McCarthy, ruled out with a sprained ankle, will be sidelined for an undetermined amount of time.”
“ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that McCarthy is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a high-ankle sprain. That puts Wentz under center, with undrafted rookie Max Brosmer being elevated to backup quarterback. Wentz will get at least one start with a talented Vikings team. If he goes down with an injury or gets benched due to performance, Brosmer will be the next man up.”
Bromser is 6’2″ and 220 pounds. Ideal quarterback size.
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