The P/PTSD Perspective: Viking Shutdown for 4 Games, New QB “Crazy,” and Goodbye Passer

K. Joudry |

Oct 11, 2025

Kevin O’Connell speaks to J.J. McCarthy and Vikings before Texans game. — Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell addressed his team Aug 9, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, before kickoff against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. O’Connell gathered players, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy, during pregame to deliver final instructions and encouragement as Minnesota prepared for the exhibition contest, setting the tone for the evening’s matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past week in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.

The P/PTSD Perspective: October 11th, 2025

1) Vikings Shutdown Next Starter for 4 Games: Very tough news. Making matters even worse is that Ryan Kelly has already picked up a concussion in 2025, making the current one even more concerning. Health — both in a short-term and long-term capacity — is what’s most important.

J.J. McCarthy and Ryan Kelly warm up before Vikings preseason game versus Texans. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) and center Ryan Kelly (78) warmed up Aug 9, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ahead of the preseason matchup with the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The duo stretched and ran drills on the field before kickoff as Minnesota evaluated new roster pieces and prepared for its opening exhibition game in front of home fans. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

2) Anonymous NFL Exec: Vikings “Absolutely Crazy” for Opting for New QB1: Time will tell. The kid has only played in a couple of games, so there needs to be more time to assess how things unfold. The current outlook is reasonably bleak but the 2025 season is in Week 6. Take a breath and then buckle up for more ball.

3) Almost Quietly, The Vikings Said Goodbye to a Quarterback: Unless something truly unusual happened, Desmond Ridder was always going to be around on a short-term basis. He jumped onto Minnesota’s roster to offer quarterback depth while J.J. McCarthy healed.

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy in Week 2 of 2025. — Sep 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) looks to make a pass during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

4) Ex-Vikings QB Axed After Trade: Not too surprising, all things considered. Brett Rypien is far from the NFL’s most impressive passer. The struggles over in Cincinnati point toward the need for change, so the depth quarterback is a scapegoat even though he’s far from the reason why the team is underwhelming.

5) Kevin O’Connell Explains Why 1 Viking Disappeared: The early portion of the season has involved the relentlessly positive Kevin O’Connell running interference for some of his players. Pretty soon, there are purple players who need to shine. Seeing McCarthy ignite a strong connection with T.J. Hockenson feels like a must moving forward.

J.J. McCarthy in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons — Sep 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws a pass during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.

Also Read on Vikings Territory:The Vikings Have Surprising Backups Stealing the Show

By K. Joudry

I'm the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. I am Canadian.