The Minnesota Vikings wasted no time addressing their sketchy quarterback depth, shaking things up with a flurry of roster moves on Sunday.
After trading backup Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles for a swap of late-round draft picks, the Vikings signed veteran Carson Wentz and released Brett Rypien. So, if you’ve been keeping score at home since the start of training camp, the Vikings have replaced their second and third-string QBs with a 32-year-old Wentz, who’s been without an NFL home all year.
The #Vikings are releasing QB Brett Rypien, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 24, 2025
The respected veteran should have interest elsewhere, while Minnesota moves forward with a remodeled QB room of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. pic.twitter.com/Xpinc2ENCK
Minnesota’s decision to pull the plug on Howell comes as no surprise, as his future with the team became painfully obvious entering the final week of camp. And while it’s a small miracle that the Vikings were able to fetch draft capital in return from Philly, their updated depth chart behind starter J.J. McCarthy has somehow gone from bad to worse.
Wentz would appear to be the clear winner here, jumping from his couch to presumptive QB2 on one of the best top-to-bottom rosters in football. But Vikings fans should be celebrating another quarterback still on the roster — an undrafted rookie who's now poised to jump from fun local story to a virtual lock to make the Vikings' initial 53.
The Minnesota Vikings just made their feelings on QB Max Brosmer’s future crystal clear
If Howell was the biggest loser of Minnesota’s preseason, Brosmer just became the biggest winner.
The undrafted rookie was expected to have an outside shot of beating out Rypien for the QB3 job this summer. Sunday’s roster moves prove that the mission was accomplished.
Brosmer looked the part of an NFL backup in Friday night’s preseason finale. He played turnover-free ball, never took a sack, and finished the game with a 100.1 QB rating, leaving coach Kevin O'Connell and company with a grand final impression.
The 24-year-old rookie probably deserves to be listed No. 2 on the depth chart ahead of Wentz, but there’s no replacement for NFL experience. You either have it or you don’t, and the Vikings clearly favor Wentz’s 94 career starts over the alternative. McCarthy will be taking his first NFL snaps in Week 1 this season, and Brosmer spent the 2024 season down the street leading the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Wentz represents a short-term solution, even if it’s not a great one. His presence changes little for Brosmer, who remains a young and ascending quarterback who the Vikings want to keep around.