Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell made it clear the No. 2 quarterback spot was up for grabs heading into the preseason finale, and while Sam Howell sat out, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer made his case to win the job.
Still, a veteran was needed behind J.J. McCarthy as Howell and Brett Rypien showed themselves as less than ideal options. So with only a few days before Tuesday's deadline to be down to 53 players, the news about a pivot came fast on Sunday.
In parallel with reports that Howell was being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, reports came that the Vikings had agreed to terms with Carson Wentz. Wentz had reportedly been at the team facility for a workout last Saturday.
Wentz was available deep into August, with no known interest in him all offseason. That could be a red flag, but during Super Bowl week in February, he said he was content with wherever his career went from there. In 2023, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in early November, so an in-season signing would've been in play if a team had a need.
Minnesota Vikings believed to have significantly upgraded their backup QB situation with Carson Wentz signing
With the preseason over, and as the Tuesday afternoon deadline for teams to be down to 53 players looms, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently ranked the top-10 backup quarterbacks in the NFL.
Wentz not only made the list, not just as an honorable mention, he came in at No. 3.
"How do you remain unsigned until August and then instantly crack the top three? That's just where Wentz is now; he's selective with backup gigs after a long rollercoaster of a career.
Fresh off stints behind Matthew Stafford and Patrick Mahomes, the one-time MVP candidate fits perfectly as a gifted, if volatile, No. 2 for Minnesota. The Vikings needed real experience on the bench."
The No. 2 overall pick in 2016, Wentz has gone from being an anointed young star to being an easily cast-off starter to now being a veteran backup. That career arc makes him a valuable asset to any quarterback room.
Wentz last saw significant action in 2022 with the Washington Commanders, when he started seven games and made eight total appearances with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. But if he had to play for the Vikings, he'd have the best supporting cast he has had since early in his career with the Eagles.
Minnesota deciding to pivot from Howell to Wentz at such a late stage says far more about Howell than it does about Wentz.
While it's aggressive to place him as the third-best backup in the league right off the bat, and there were theoretically more interesting options out there, the Vikings made a quick upgrade to Wentz when they were left in a tough spot by Howell's rough summer.