MN Vikings QB Situation Gets Even Murkier

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Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings practice
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have week 6 off, meaning we’re on the final day of yearly-distributed mandatory Vikings PTO. But while fans are stuck dealing with the bye week blues, Vikings players and coaches at TCO Performance Center in Eagan were extremely happy to get some much-needed rest.

Because not only is this team trying to recover from a multi-week business trip to Europe, where most of the team became homesick less than halfway through, but the MN Vikings are doing their best to get healthy too.

JJ McCarthy with Kevin O'Connell - Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Unfortunately, that task is proving much easier spoken than accomplished, especially after Minnesota was devastated by injuries up and down the roster, both before and during their trip overseas. But entering a new week, all eyes are on the Vikings’ QB room.

After Carson Wentz injured his left shoulder during Minnesota’s week 5 win in London against the Browns, the Vikings are down to just one healthy QB. Thankfully, JJ McCarthy is expected to return to practice this week, something NFL insider Tom Pelissero confirmed in a report at NFL Network Sunday morning.

Pelissero: Minnesota Vikings QB situation “murky, to say the least”

That means former Gopher Max Brosmer won’t have to play quarterback for both the Vikings’ first and second team offenses at practices this week. Unfortunately, that was where Tom’s good news ended.

From there, Pelissero reported that neither Wentz or McCarthy are healthy, entering week 7, and that Minnesota’s QB situation vs the Eagles remains “murky, to say the least”.

“The Vikings quarterback situation is murky, to say the least. JJ McCarthy, I’m told, got good work during the bye week. He should be able to return to practice this week, but McCarthy still is not 100% on that ankle.

They’ve got to see his mobility, they’ve got to see how the ankle responds. And they gotta make sure he is comfortable and in a groove, from an operational perspective, before they put him back out on the field.

Meanwhile, his backup Carson Wentz, dealing with a left shoulder injury, he could be limited in practice this week. A lot to sort through, to figure out who’s going to be on the field next week against the Eagles.”

Tom Pelissero – NFL Network (Sunday, October 12, 2025)

Of course, IF the MN Vikings’ top two quarterbacks cannot get healthy enough to take the field seven days from today, then it will be one-and-done Minnesota Golden Gopher Max Brosmer, who’d be called into action at U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday against the Eagles.

Max Brosmer SZN incoming…?

If Wentz isn’t doing team drills to start the week, I’d imagine Brosmer will, at the least, get QB1 reps at practice. In his first NFL season, the hometown undrafted rookie free agent has taken snaps in two games and he’s been active in four games total.

With those opportunities, Brosmer has thrown four passes, all of which came late in the Vikings’ blowout win week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He completed 2 of those 4 attempts, good for 29 passing yards and a 74.0 QB Rating.

Related: Game Moving Too Fast for MN Vikings QB?

Brosmer also took one snap in London against the Cleveland Browns, a kneel-down that came with time expiring in the second quarter, after Carson Wentz exited to the locker room with the left shoulder injury that will limit him at Minnesota Vikings practice this week.

If Max is forced into action next weekend, Vikings fans shouldn’t be all that concerned about an offensive fallout. The line in front of whoever plays QB vs Philly, is expected to be healthier than it has been pretty much all season, and Max Brosmer’s biggest strengths are pre-snap processing and going through progressions quickly.

Related: MN Vikings Have Told Max Brosmer to Back Off

Coincidentally, those are the exact traits head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings offense needs more of, from their quarterback. And the Minnesota coaching staff is high on Brosmer for a reason. Should he get his first real NFL shot on Sunday, I expect him to take advantage of it.

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