Vikings QB Ends Up with Bengals
The Minnesota Vikings released quarterback Brett Rypien a few days ago, making way for the free-agent acquisition of Carson Wentz and the rise of undrafted free-agent Max Brosmer up the summer depth chart.
An ex-Vikings quarterback has landed with the Cincinnati Bengals, adding depth to their roster and sparking intrigue about his role heading into the 2025 campaign.
Minnesota also traded veteran passer Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rypien didn’t take long to find new employment, though, signing with the Cincinnati Bengals one day after the league’s grand roster cut process.
Ex-Vikings QB Lands on Joe Burrow’s Team
Rypien will become the QB3 in Cincy.
It’s the Bengals for Brett Rypien
Rypien will try on his seventh NFL team on for size.
Dayton Daily News‘ Laurel Pfahler announced this week, “The Bengals did not claim any players off waivers, and none of the guys they cut were plucked by other teams. That made setting the bulk of their practice squad a bit simpler.”
“On Wednesday, Cincinnati signed 13 of the players it waived Tuesday to the practice squad and added sixth-year quarterback Brett Rypien to the group as well.”
Rypien’s unemployment lasted three days. He’s a Bengal.
Role in Cincinnati This Season
In Minnesota, had the Vikings kept him around, Rypien would’ve filled a QB4 role on the practice squad. He moved one ladder rung by signing with the Bengals.
Of course, Joe Burrow will hold down QB1 duties; it’s about as certain as any NFL decision gets. After Burrow, another former Viking, Jake Browning, is the second in line if injuries beset the QB1. Rypien will slide into Cincinnati’s roster orbit as the QB3, living on the practice squad until further notice.
About 60% of NFL teams carry just two quarterbacks on the active roster, leaving the third option as an emergency call-up nominee, the fate likely awaiting Rypien in 2025.
Our Janik Eckardt tweeted about Rypien to Cincinnati: “The entire McVay tree is obsessed with Brett Rypien for some reason.”
Once a Fallback Plan at QB2 for the Vikings
Not long ago, in April, for example, the Vikings had two quarterbacks on the roster: J.J. McCarthy and Brett Rypien.
Because Minnesota acted slowly to find a backup quarterback behind McCarthy this offseason, some fans talked themselves into Rypien as the possible QB2 solution. Head coach Kevin O’Connell later cycled through the aforementioned Howell and Rypien before landing on Wentz and Brosmer.
It’s also worth noting that the Vikings’ brass spoke glowingly about Rypien for much of the offseason. Moreover, Rypien balled out in the 2024 preseason with the Chicago Bears.
He did no such thing in Minnesota this month.
Minnesota’s Revamped Backup QB Strategy
If an injury sidelines McCarthy in 2025, Minnesota would hand the reins to Wentz or Brosmer. The QB2 job is unclear as of August 27th. In fact, it feels like a 50-50 coin flip.
O’Connell evidently saw enough from Sam Howell to trade him away, and Rypien didn’t do himself any favors in the preseason games. Now, Wentz or Brosmer would be tasked with QB1 duty if disaster strikes.
Fans have rapidly warmed up to Brosmer especially because of his dazzling preseason performances.
More on Rypien
NFL writer Chris Schad expanded on Rypien’s situation after Minnesota dropped him earlier this week.
He wrote, “The Vikings were busy sorting out their quarterback room on Sunday morning and former Bears quarterback Brett Rypien got caught in the crossfire. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Minnesota has released Rypien moments after a flurry of moves including a big trade that sent Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles and saw Carson Wentz sign with the Vikings to take his place.”
“The next question for Rypien is where he lands next. While he hasn’t had success on the field, he’s been able to hang around thanks to his smarts. It may be too early for Rypien to lean into a coaching career, but it’s possible he could latch on with another team once roster cuts are complete later this week.”
To answer Schad’s question, the Bengals stepped up to the plate.
Schad added, “Rypien has only appeared in 10 career games with four starts, completing 58.3% of his passes for 950 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions. An undrafted free agent out of Boise State, he hung with the Denver Broncos in the first three years of his career before spending the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets.”
“Although he signed a one-year deal with the Bears before the 2024 season, he failed to make the team out of training camp and signed with the Vikings. He spent the entire year on the practice squad and was competing to become the No. 3 quarterback during training camp. But after he and Howell were passed on the depth chart, the Vikings chose to go with J.J. McCarthy, Wentz […] and UDFA Max Brosmer in their quarterback room.”
Rypien turned 29 last month.
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