Florio: Vikings May Have to Play QB3 or Trade for Former QB1…

The Minnesota Vikings have a quick turnaround this week, playing the first game of week 8, on Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers. Although the team didn’t hold an official practice on Monday, neither Carson Wentz or J.J. McCarthy would have participated in a full capacity.

That didn’t stop head coach Kevin O’Connell from naming Wentz the starter on Tuesday. Still, with JJ McCarthy still out and ongoing questions surrounding the redshirt rookie’s readiness — not to mention Wents’ aching left shoulder and underwhelming performance of late — former Gopher Max Brosmer remains at the ready.

MN Vikings may need Max Brosmer says Florio

And according to Pro Football Talk founder Mike Florio, a move to the rookie UDFA (who has impressed at every turn) is starting to make more and more sense. After all, everything we’ve seen from Brosmer leads us to believe he could operate O’Connell’s offense in a way that Wentz cannot.

It’s a short week, and the Vikings could be shorthanded at quarterback. Both J.J. McCarthy (ankle) and Carson Wentz (left shoulder) were listed as limited participants in a Monday practice that didn’t actually happen. That keeps the door open for the possibility that undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will get the start.

Brosmer has served as the backup to Wentz during McCarthy’s absence. And Brosmer has impressed the Vikings in his limited time in the NFL. Could he play? The Vikings may have no choice.

Injury or not, the Wentz chariot-pumpkin meter is back in the orange category. And McCarthy, even if healthy, possibly hasn’t practiced enough to play. Brosmer has been the one consistent and healthy presence.

Mike Florio – Pro Football Talk

Wentz was horrible on Sunday, right out of the gate, and he wasn’t much better during their trip to Europe. Meanwhile, J.J. McCarthy has been out of the game for over a year dealing with achilles and ankle injuries.

Clearly, the MN Vikings have questions about whether or not he is currently capable of starting duties. They can only move the goalposts on his timeline so far, before fans and media say “enough is enough”. Would Max Brosmer step in and be an immediate star? No, but he could very well be better than Carson Wentz.

Kirk Cousins noted again for MN Vikings

When the Vikings opted against bringing back either Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones, they put all of their eggs in the untested basket of J.J. McCarthy. As those two veterans thrive elsewhere, Florio wonders if a reunion with the league’s highest-paid backup isn’t on the horizon.

Then there’s this possibility. With two weeks left until the trade deadline arrives, could the Vikings pull the rip cord on the Kirk Cousins emergency option? While the Falcons possibly have a diminished appetite to trade Cousins now that starter Michael Penix Jr. is day-to-day with a bone bruise, the Vikings presumably would get through Thursday night’s game at the Chargers and the following Sunday’s visit to the Lions before making a final decision in the two remaining days before the time for 2025 trades ends.

By November 4, the Falcons could be willing to move Cousins out. And the Vikings could be willing to move Cousins in.

Frankly, a move like that could be the only chance the Vikings have to end their current trend of failing to make the playoffs in back-to-back years. They last qualified for the postseason in consecutive years in 2008 and 2009.

Mike Florio – Pro Football Talk

A loss on Thursday would put the Vikings at 3-4 with their playoff hopes on life support. With Wentz starting, failing to get the job done would waste a roster intended to win now. If Brosmer steps in, it may just be a stopgap.

Cousins would clearly love to be back under center routinely, and he had a good thing going in Minnesota. That’s going to remain a possibility until he starts for another team, and Florio is right, Minnesota can’t afford to keep swinging and missing.