Vikings Continue Revolving Door at QB
The 2025 Minnesota Vikings will be remembered for quarterback instability, poor performance, and injuries. Yet another chapter unfolded on Tuesday, and Minnesota once again cut ties with QB4 Desmond Ridder.
The Vikings released their QB4, continuing their revolving door at quarterback and pointing at full health for the QB room entering Week 14.
It’s the second such roster release for Ridder this season, and he’ll be free to sign anywhere in the league later this week.
Vikings Drop Desmond Ridder
Thanks for the memories, Desmond.
Ridder Out in MIN
It was another short stint in Minnesota for Ridder. CBS Sports announced Tuesday: “The Vikings released Ridder from the practice squad Tuesday. Ridder signed with the Vikings last Thursday due to the injuries to starter J.J. McCarthy (concussion) and backup Carson Wentz (shoulder).”
“With McCarthy likely to clear the league’s concussion protocol this week, the Vikings seem to have lost the need for Ridder’s depth. If J.J. McCarthy is indeed cleared to play, Max Brosmer will once again be the only healthy backup quarterback on the roster.”
Ridder served as the emergency quarterback last weekend at Seattle, and truth be told, the Vikings probably would’ve played better if he started the damn game. Max Bromser was that bad.
J.J. McCarthy Fully Good to Go for Week 14
Why did this happen to Ridder? Simple. Most NFL teams don’t carry four quarterbacks on the roster, and with McCarthyback, plus Max Brosmer and John Wolford in the mix, the house is full.
McCarthy suffered a concussion in Week 12 at the Green Bay Packers, sidelining him for a week. Brosmer took over at Seattle in Week 13, where he promptly performed miserably.
The group isn’t very efficient, but it’s McCarthy, Brosmer, and Wolford in and Ridder out.
Ridder’s NFL Resume
Ridder has logged 18 starts in the NFL with Atlanta and Las Vegas, and those teams have produced an 8-10 (.444) record when he’s been under center. He’ll pull it down a few times per game and isn’t hesitant to run, but no one confuses him for a high-end dual threat.
The profile is what it is: a 16-to-14 touchdown-to-interception line and roughly 160 passing yards per outing. Ridder lands squarely in the middle, the definition of serviceable, and probably requires a near-perfect structure around him to sniff the next quarterback tier.
Through four seasons, Ridders has logged this destination resume:
- Atlanta Falcons (2022–2023)
- Arizona Cardinals (2024)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2024)
- Cincinnati Bengals (2025)
- Minnesota Vikings (2025-now)
A young journeyman.
Brosmer, Wolford as Backups
McCarthy has a splotchy injury history as a 22-year-old, missing 23 of his first 28 eligible starts as a pro. Without Ridder, Brosmer and Wolford will serve as the backups, and based on McCarthy’s durability — lack of it — there’s a reasonable chance that one of those men sees the field in the next five games.
And another funny quirk: if McCarthy gets injured again, Minnesota would probably — you guessed it — re-sign Ridder for a third time. It’s just how the league works.
Takes from Ridder’s Old Team
Ridder spent the first part of his career with the Falcons, and Blogging Dirty‘s Jason Kandel opined — poked fun — on the Ridder-to-Minnesota last week.
He wrote, “Vikings’ signing of Desmond Ridder only confirms a massive J.J. McCarthy nightmare. For as worrisome as Michael Penix Jr.’s injury history might be, the Atlanta Falcons must be glad they don’t have J.J. McCarthy right now.”
“The second-year signal-caller has thrown 10 interceptions in just six starts as the 22-year-old QB has the Minnesota Vikings sitting at just 4-7 entering Week 13. Amid his struggles, the national champion has quickly been labeled a draft bust, but there’s still time for him to turn things around. But with McCarthy in the concussion protocol and usual backup Carson Wentz out for the season, the Vikings signed an insurance option that Falcons’ fans know all too well.”
Ridders apparently isn’t remembered favorably by Falcons-themed media.
Kandel continued, “It was reported yesterday that Minnesota signed Desmond Ridder to its practice squad, and he was an absolute nightmare during his short stint with the Dirty Birds. So not only can fans feel vindicated with Penix massively out-performing McCarthy, Minnesota’s desperation led them right into the arms of a former Falcons’ draft bust.”
“Despite a partially-torn ACL suffered in Week 11 ending the 25-year-old’s season, he managed to display far more franchise QB potential than his former college rival. He threw just nine touchdowns this season, but part of that was OC Zac Robinson failing to cater the offense to his strengths.”
Ridder will likely continue to snag QB3 and QB4 jobs; he’s just 26 years old.
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