Max Brosmer could turn the Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy dilemma into a crisis

Coach Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings have done nothing but express confidence in rookie Max Brosmer, their rookie quarterback, who will make his first NFL start in Sunday’s road game against the Seattle Seahawks.

That doesn’t mean starting their third different quarterback in 12 games was part of the plan for 2025. At this point, all preseason plans have been scrapped with the Vikings (4-7) fighting to survive their worst-case scenario.

In a perfect world, starter J.J. McCarthy and the offense would be gaining steam entering Thanksgiving weekend. But with McCarthy struggling to produce on the field  — and constantly dealing with injury issues off of it — the Vikings could suddenly find themselves in an extremely uncomfortable spot entering the offseason: unsettled at the quarterback position for the third year in a row.

Rookie Max Brosmer has a chance to make the Minnesota Vikings’ QB situation even more uncomfortable 

The Vikings made McCarthy their QB1 this season, but he’s done little to justify keeping that role. Adding to Minnesota’s ongoing quarterback mess? The depth chart behind McCarthy is an undrafted rookie in Brosmer, and a 30-year-old journeyman veteran, John Wolford, who hasn’t taken a real NFL snap since the 2022 season.

With all due respect to Sam Howell, Carson Wentz, and Desmond Ridder, the Vikings were never serious about adding real veteran competition for McCarthy this offseason, and the most likely scenario is that McCarthy resumes his role as the starter as soon as he clears the NFL’s concussion protocol.

The harsh reality for Minnesota entering Week 13 is that Brosmer’s about to be tossed right into the fire. The Vikings will be without left guard Donovan Jackson (ankle), and could also be down left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who’s managing foot and knee issues and is questionable to suit up on Sunday. That figures to be problematic against the Seahawks, who’ve been among the most disruptive defenses in football this season. 

Brosmer is entering a unique situation, as the expectations should be extremely low for his first career start. The Vikings are double-digit underdogs, and no one’s expecting Brosmer to carve up one of the NFL’s best defenses — especially inside the deafening confines of Lumen Field.

But what… if he does?

O’Connell’s confidence in Brosmer hasn’t wavered since the preseason, when he beat out Howell for a spot on the 53-man roster. ESPN insider Dan Graziano hinted that Brosmer could start more games down the stretch if Sunday’s audition exceeds expectations.

“The Vikings still insist they believe in McCarthy and plan for him to be the franchise QB moving forward. But if Brosmer shows some level of ability to get the ball into the hands of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison consistently, it's going to be very interesting to see what Minnesota does once McCarthy is cleared to play again.”

When a team struggles like Minnesota has this year, the backup quarterback tends to be the most popular player on the team. The Brosmer Fever is definitely spreading throughout the Twin Cities right now, but that doesn’t mean a potential quarterback controversy between the rookie and McCarthy would be a good thing.

Vikings fans are already living through their worst fear: That McCarthy might not be the franchise QB they hoped he’d be as the No. 10 overall pick. If Brosmer shows a firmer grasp of the offense on Sunday, those fears will only worsen.

Brosmer’s first start as a hand-picked product of the Minnesota Golden Gophers is a fun local story. But the fate of the franchise’s current Super Bowl window rests squarely on McCarthy’s development. If he’s not the player the Vikings’ front office banked on in the 2024 NFL Draft, the franchise will be heading for a massive, multi-year setback (regardless of Brosmer’s performance).