Both Jordan Love and Malik Willis have dealt with injuries this season. Love missed last week with a concussion and, despite beign cleared to return, will not play in the finale. Instead, LaFleur is dipping deep into the depth chart and starting Clayton Tune.

Clayton Tune to Start for Green Bay Against MN Vikings

Despite attempting just four passes this season and owning only 27 career attempts, Clayton Tune will make the second start of his NFL career. The former Houston Cougars quarterback is being elevated from the practice squad to lead Green Bay on Sunday.

Jordan Love has cleared concussion protocol, but coach Matt LaFleur said Clayton Tune will start the regular season finale on Sunday at Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/Fe9yik0sSn

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) January 1, 2026

A fifth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, Tune has appeared in 14 games but has yet to throw a touchdown pass at the NFL level. He has been intercepted three times, including earlier this season when he briefly stepped in the Green Bay against the Baltimore Ravens.

It’s unrealistic to expect Tune to perform at a high level, especially against Minnesota’s starting defensive unit. That could force Green Bay to lean on its backup situation, which isn’t entirely straightforward either.

The Packers signed former Atlanta Falcons starter Desmond Ridder on Wednesday. Ridder hasn’t appeared in a game this season, but he has spent some time on the Vikings practice squad twice, giving him some familiarity with Minnesota. Even if he doesn’t see the field, that insight could be valuable on the sideline.

Where do the Minnesota Vikings turn?

J.J. McCarthy continues to recover from a fracture in his throwing hand. Max Brosmer has been mediocre in limited opportunities, and Carson Wentz is out for the season. Kevin O’Connell has indicated that all options remain on the table, including John Wolford.

It makes little sense to play McCarthy at anything less than full strength. Even when healthy, his performance has been underwhelming. In nine games this season, the presumed starter has completed just 57.3% of his passes with an 11-to-12 TD/INT ratio.

McCarthy practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday, a trend that is expected to continue throughout the week. Brosmer appears to have the inside track for the start, but the final decision won’t be known until O’Connell makes it official.

Minnesota sits at 8-8 with a a chance to finish above .500. Green Bay, meanwhile, is locked into a playoff spot and plans to rest its regulars. How the Vikings respond remains to be seen, but Kevin O’Connell wants every option available.

QB Remains a Mystery for Vikings in Week 18

Starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy is still recovering from a broken hand, and it would seem unwise to rush him back for a meaningless game. However, it doesn’t appear as simple as handing the start to Max Brosmer.

In the meantime, Kevin O'Connell said that he would get Max Brosmer "ready to go" but noted that he wants to have all QBs — including John Wolford and Brett Rypien — ready to play. https://t.co/QpNKDmSq2Z

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 29, 2025

As ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports, the Vikings intend to have every quarterback on the roster ready to play. Things likely would have gone differently this season had Carson Wentz remained healthy and available throughout the year.

Instead, the quarterback situation has been a mess. McCarthy posted a mixed bag of performances while going 5-4 as a starter. Brosmer is 1-1 while completing 63.5% of his passes, but his limitations are evident. He’s averaging just 4.3 yards per attempt and has yet to throw a touchdown, finishing with a 0-4 TD-to-interception ratio.

John Wolford hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since 2022, but he has familiarity with both Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell. If Wolford plays ahead of Brosmer, it would signal O’Connell’s reluctance to continue rolling out either rookie.

Regardless of who lines up under center, finding Justin Jefferson should be the priority. The star wide receiver is just 53 yards shy of 1,000 on the season, and there’s no reason his five-year streak of hitting the mark should come to an end.

Green Bay faces its own quarterback uncertainty. Jordan Love won’t play, and Malik Willis could also be rested. That would elevate Clayton Tune from the practice squad, potentially making his first start since 2023.

The Vikings and Packers will kick off a watered-down version of their rivalry on Sunday at noon.

The Green Bay Packers are the only opponent Minnesota has yet to defeat this season. That could change in the finale, and Green Bay may help the Vikings along the way.

Minnesota Vikings Favored Against Resting Packers

The season was never supposed to unfold this way for Minnesota. The Vikings didn’t spend heavily in the offseason only to see their Super Bowl aspirations evaporate by midseason. J.J. McCarthy has struggled, Max Brosmer has been worse, but with Green Bay expected to rest its starters, Minnesota enters Week 18 as the favorite.

With Green Bay locked into the NFC’s No. 7 seed, they are expected to rest key players next week.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 28, 2025

Jordan Love missed the Packers’ Saturday night loss to the Baltimore Ravens while in concussion protocol. He won’t suit up in Week 18 either, leaving Malik Willis to face Brian Flores’ defense.

Following their loss, Green Bay can no longer win the NFC North regardless of what the 11–4 Chicago Bears do on Sunday Night Football. Locked into the No. 7 seed, the Packers have little incentive to risk key players. Assuming McCarthy’s broken hand remains an issue, and it makes little sense to rush him back anyway, Brosmer will get the start.

Despite having yet to throw a touchdown and opening his career with a four-interception performance, Brosmer is currently a six-point favorite against the division rival.

He’s 1–1 as a starter, having knocked off the Lions, and he can also be credited with the win over the New York Giants after replacing McCarthy at halftime. The former Minnesota Gophers quarterback has completed 63.5% of his passes this season, though the game plan has been extremely conservative due to his limitations.

Regardless of who, or how many, players the Packers sit, it would be encouraging to see Brosmer and the Vikings deliver a competent offensive performance. Quarterback play has been a glaring weakness all season, and a significant reset in 2026 feels inevitable.

On Thursday, the Minnesota Vikings faced the Detroit Lions in the middle of three Christmas contests streaming between Netflix and Prime Video throughout the day. Even better, the Vikings came out on top, 23-10.

Much like last weekend’s victory over the New York Giants, the Vikings were brutal to watch for most of the game Thursday, offensively. Max Brosmer threw for just 51 yards — 30 yards of which were completed to superstar wide receiver, Justin Jefferson.

Justin Jefferson Passes Randy Moss in NFL Lore

Through his first five NFL seasons, the 2020 first round pick owns an NFL record 96.5 receiving yards per game, a mark that has taken a serious hit in 2025, thanks to inconsistent quarterback play and an offensive line that cannot stay healthy.

Nonetheless, Jefferson continues to pile up the career yardage. With his underwhelming Christmas Day performance, in fact, Justin set a new NFL record for total receiving yards through six seasons — with 8,379.

It was just enough to topple the previous record holder, a wide receiver you may have heard of, named Randy Moss. Next week, in Green Bay, Justin Jefferson will have an opportunity to add to his record.

.@JJettas2 passed Randy Moss (8,375) for the most receiving yards by a player in his first six NFL seasons.#DETvsMIN pic.twitter.com/aR5eLq6cc6

— Vikings Communications (@VikingsPR) December 26, 2025

Moss, of course, went on to rack up more than 15,000 career receiving yards, haul in 156 touchdown receptions, and earn induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Justin Jefferson still has plenty of runway to chase those benchmarks, though he’ll need more help in future seasons, if he wants to keep up his pace.

Minnesota Vikings Offense Flops in Inept Victory

Thirty receiving yards is an improvement over the four receiving yards Jefferson recorded during Max Brosmer’s first start, in Seattle vs the Seahawks, but it highlights just how low Minnesota’s offense has really fallen.

The #Vikings won with three net passing yards, the fewest in a win in team history and the fewest by any team since Oct. 16, 1983, when the Seahawks won with two.

They're also now out of last place in the NFC North; they're tied with the Lions at 8-8, and have a season sweep.

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) December 26, 2025

Brosmer still looked like an undrafted rookie trying to find his footing against a defense scheming up everything in their power to stop him. The former Gopher finished 9-of-16 for just 51 yards, good for a 9.0 quarterback rating.

He was also sacked seven times for minus-47 yards, making the Minnesota Vikings’ net total for passing yards on the day… just THREE.

With Jordan Mason out, and Aaron Jones struggling with injuries of his own, the Vikings run game struggled too. If not for a dominant defensive performance, combined with Jordan Addison’s 65-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, Friday’s outcome could’ve been a lot different.

JORDAN ADDISON JINGLE JINGLE ALL THE WAY!

DETvsMIN on @Netflix pic.twitter.com/ZbfwntyT44

— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2025

Ultimately, the result marked a fittingly underwhelming end to Detroit’s playoff hopes.

It also reflects the frustrating reality of a Minnesota Vikings roster that couldn’t overcome extensive injuries and poor quarterback play in time for a now four-game win streak to matter toward their own playoff dreams.

Although a quarterback change from J.J. McCarthy (concussion) to Max Brosmer took place this week, the results were basically the same. Superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson was ticked off one game ago, and things ratcheted up another notch this week, as a result.

Justin Jefferson has clearly had enough of MN Vikings

Last weekend, McCarthy posted a 34.2 quarterback rating. On Sunday against the Seahawks, Brosmer had a 32.8 quarterback rating. It’s almost hard to fathom…If a quarterback literally spiked the ball every play, his passer rating would be 39.6, higher than both. Justin Jefferson has grown sick of the ineptitude, and rather than talking about it again, he opted against it altogether.

The Vikings say Justin Jefferson declined to speak. First time that's happened since I arrived in 2022. https://t.co/tC2gIOhNeK

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) December 1, 2025

For Jefferson to completely decline comment is indicative of the dire straits that Minnesota is in. This is a guy who signed the most lucrative non-quarterback contract in history, and did so without acting like the divas that litter his same position.

It’s hard to blame Jefferson, though, because short of veteran journeyman Carson Wentz, he’s hasn’t had a quarterback with the ability to get him the football. McCarthy has been awful, and Max Brosmer found a way to make it worse. On six targets Sunday, Jefferson caught a pair of passes for just FOUR yards.

Justin Jefferson with Carson Wentz this season – 477 yards (95.4 YPG)

Justin Jefferson with anyone else – 322 yards (46 YPG)

— Ted (@tlschwerz) December 1, 2025

Jefferson has 89 NFL games across the entirety of his career. His previous career low was 14 yards against the Detroit Lions in 2022. Kirk Cousins started that game and the Vikings won 28-24, so at least Jefferson had reason to go home happy.

There is zero reason for Jefferson to be happy on the flight home Sunday. He probably isn’t going to be happy the rest of the season, either. Minnesota has six games left, and they don’t have an available quarterback that looks capable of getting him the football.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell are wasting one of Jefferson’s prime seasons, and they’ll have to make the right decision on quarterback this offseason. The superstar isn’t going to sign up for another season of this nonsense, and even if McCarthy is expected to be the future, he’ll want a much more legitimate option to believe in as well.

The Vikings are a terrible 4-8 team this season. And now, it looks like the team has crushed the spirit of their top playmaker, a tragedy in and of itself.

Justin Jefferson entered today's game with 795 receiving yards.

He ends the game with 799 yards. pic.twitter.com/kYkcQPXkiZ

— Underdog (@Underdog) November 30, 2025

There was some hope that handing the keys over to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer would ignite the offense in a way we haven’t seen much this season. Unfortunately, he found a way to make Vikings fans miss J.J. McCarthy.

Max Brosmer went up in flames against Seattle

In his first NFL start, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer completed 19-of-30 passes for 126 yards. The 9-3 Seattle Seahawks have a formidable defense, and the former Gophers signal caller felt that to the tune of four interceptions, one of which being a horrendous pick-six.

It could have been a 3-3 game at halftime had Kevin O’Connell simply took the points with his rookie quarterback looking at 4th and 1 in the red zone. Instead he rolled him out on play action and the first of his interceptions took place.

well that was not ideal pic.twitter.com/qzLerp3NeU

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) November 30, 2025

Things didn’t get better as Brosmer’s day went on, despite Brian Flores’ defense holding Sam Darnold to just 14-of-26 for 128 yards. Now sitting at 4-8, fresh off being shut out for the first time since 2007, it may be time for Minnesota Vikings decision-makers to consider a shift in focus for the organization.

Draft position could prove beneficial for MN Vikings

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been nothing short of terrible when it comes to identifying draft talent. His draft classes have missed constantly, and McCarthy could be what sinks his ship. For now he’s got a recent extension, and another top swing may right some wrongs.

The Vikings aren’t going to take a quarterback with McCarthy still clinging to life. They had to spend a boatload on the offensive line because of misses an undeveloped talent. They did the same on the defensive line, and will have other holes to fill as well.

If not for Jordan Addison, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s greatest draft pick would be 2024 6th round kicker Will Reichard.

He has made 28 total picks.

14 of them are no longer with the organization.

— Ted (@tlschwerz) November 29, 2025

Currently owning the eighth worst record in football, they could slide below the Commanders with a loss on Sunday. Minnesota has eight picks in the 2026 draft and should receive a couple more compensatory selections. The higher that first round pick is, the less likely even Adofo-Mensah can screw it up.

A bad Washington Commanders team comes to town next weekend. It remains to be seen if the previously concussed J.J. McCarthy will take back over, but the results may be better from the losing side of the scoreboard.

This team is going nowhere in 2025, and tanking the rest of the way could be the right answer. Playing either McCarthy or Brosmer might be enough to accomplish it anyways.

When head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shoved Darnold out the free agency door during the offseason nobody would’ve expected that, by week 13, they’d be starting a rookie UDFA against their 2024 Cinderella Story.

Yet, here we are. At this point in time, there is no questioning whether or not Vikings brass misjudged the readiness of 2024 1st round pick, JJ McCarthy, who is sitting out this week, after suffering a concussion last weekend against the Green Bay Packers.

They should have signaled to veteran quarterbacks last offseason — specifically Darnold and Daniel Jones — that McCarthy may not be ready to take over in 2025. And once those two chose greener pastures in Seattle and Indy, KOC should have joined forces with his old friend, Aaron Rodgers.

Don’t be shocked if Max Brosmer “balls out” vs Seahawks

Obviously, none of those things happened, which is why Max Brosmer is starting today against the Seahawks and why the Minnesota Vikings enter the contest 4-7. But McCarthy’s early career struggles, combined with QB mistakes made by the organization this offseason, may have been fate in disguise.

At least, that is what people behind the scenes at TCO Performance Center are telling Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk.com) that, not only will Max impress those watching Sunday, but it’s very possible the MN Vikings’ other kid quarterback “balls out” against the Seahawks.

…we’ve caught wind of cautious optimism that the moment won’t be too big for Brosmer. As one source put it, Brosmer is “made of the right stuff.” He processes quickly, he throws accurately.

As the source said, “Don’t be shocked if Max balls out.”

An upset of the 8-3 Seahawks is too much to reasonably expect for the 4-7 Vikings. The best-case scenario would be to see enough from Brosmer to make him a potential candidate to play in 2026, once the Vikings inevitably explore all options at the position in the offseason.

As they absolutely should.

Mike Florio – Pro Football Talk

Minnesota Vikings could be in for QB controversy

After JJ completed just 54% of his passes through seven NFL starts, compiling only 929 yards and 6 touchdowns while piling up 10 interceptions — the expectations for Brosmer, a rookie UDFA sitting behind the struggling redshirt rookie, are through the floor.

But those of us who watched Max grow up for one season at the University of Minnesota, we know better. At this point in their football careers, Brosmer is everything JJ McCarthy is not. Not only will he come in with high-end preparation, but he will play on-time, go through progressions quickly and hit open receivers.

Related: Darnold Says Vikings Made Decision For Him

While the 24-year-old may not be what his 22-year-old teammate in the Vikings’ QB room is, physically, Brosmer is leaps and bounds ahead of where McCarthy is mentally. And this afternoon in Seattle, that mental edge will be far more noticeable than any physical downgrades under center.

Reports suggested that Max Brosmer would start for the Vikings after J.J. McCarthy left Week 12 concussed. That has now been confirmed by Minnesota, and the final injury report for Week 13 is now available.

Max Brosmer gets first career start for MN Vikings

Kevin O’Connell turned the quarterback position over to J.J. McCarthy this season. Things have not gone well and he owns a 2-4 record with a 54.1% completion rate. After suffering a concussion against Green Bay, he has officially been ruled out. It’s the Max Brosmer show this week.

Max Brosmer will get his first career start this Sunday in Seattle. pic.twitter.com/cmsG6woKND

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 28, 2025

After going undrafted following a strong senior season with the Minnesota Gophers, Brosmer showed out as his pro day and turned heads from the Minnesota Vikings. He played well during his preseason action, and has drawn rave reviews from multiple coaches.

Now 11 games into the season, Minnesota will give Brosmer a chance to pick up his first NFL win. It has been quite a meteoric rise for Brosmer, who just a couple of years ago, was playing at the FCS level.

In 13 games for the Gophers last season, Brosmer completed 66.5% of his passes for 2,828 yards and 18 touchdowns. Equipped with an even more weapons around him, Brosmer should be in a position to thrive.

With McCarthy inactive, veteran John Wolford will be elevated to serve as backup. Desmond Ridder was signed this week to provide depth throughout practice.

Offensive line incomplete again for Minnesota Vikings

It’s not just McCarthy that will be inactive this weekend. Both Christian Darrisaw and Donovan Jackson left the Green Bay Packers contest. It’s possible that Darrisaw is back, and that would be beneficial for Brosmer, but Jackson is out.

Final #MINvsSEA injury report

OUT: Donovan Jackson and J.J. McCarthy

QUESTIONABLE: Christian Darrisaw, Jonathan Greenard, Theo Jackson, Josh Metellus and Jalen Redmond pic.twitter.com/HiNF4xpte4

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 28, 2025

Jackson has now missed multiple games this season. Of 12 total, he will have played in just nine. Jonathan Greenard has missed multiple weeks now, and remains questionable. Jalen Redmond has filled in some on the edge, but popped up on the injury report Thursday with a hip issue.

The Vikings certainly can’t afford to be without both Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus. That is two-third of their starting safeties, and would leave aging veteran Harrison Smith on his own.

Minnesota was healthier than they have been all season against the Packers. Unfortunately that clean bill of health was fleeting and quickly reverted to the injury bug they have dealt with all season.

Over the offseason Darnold, Daniel Jones, and others were passed over by the Vikings, because leadership felt like J.J. McCarthy was the right guy to take over. So far they couldn’t have been more wrong, and now, after suffering a concussion last week against Green Bay, McCarthy’s set to miss more time.

Dianni Russini confirms it’s Max Brosmer time for Minnesota

J.J. McCarthy has played just six of a possible 11 games for Minnesota this season. Last week’s concussion adds to an ankle and hand injury he’s dealt with already. So, as he has done plenty during his young career, he will miss a game. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini has reported that Max Brosmer will be under center for Kevin O’Connell.

With McCarthy out again Sunday, it’s Max Brosmer time. The undrafted rookie, making his first NFL start, has evaluators using words like calm, organized and efficient. I’m told by a scout who liked him in college at New Hampshire and Minnesota, “He’s not flashy, but neither was Brock Purdy when he first got tossed into the fire for the 49ers and won the job.”

At this point, the Vikings just need some type of spark at quarterback. Brosmer might not be the long-term answer. But O’Connell has another shot to stabilize this offense, squeeze something out of a season veering sideways, and, if nothing else, give maybe the best receiver in football, Justin Jefferson, a reason to smile again. The star wideout has stayed patient all season despite the quiet stat lines.

Dianni Russini – The Athletic

Through six games, McCarthy has led the Vikings to a 2-4 record with a completion rate of just 54.1%. He has a 6/10 TD/INT ratio, and has consistently flopped on a weekly basis. Even prior to his concussion, there were valid concerns as to whether the Minnesota Vikings could keep running him out there.

Now it’s the Max Brosmer show. An undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota, Brosmer has shown a leadership ability well beyond his years. O’Connell and the Vikings brass were in attendance for his pro day prior to the draft, and he has flashed whenever given an opportunity.

It’s not as though Brosmer needs to set the world on fire Sunday, but he is being given an opportunity plenty of undrafted players never see. With the Vikings entering enemy territory as 10.5 point underdogs, he can play loose and with virtually nothing to lose.

MN Vikings miss will be front and center on Sunday

In the first opportunity Minnesota has to showcase J.J. McCarthy against Sam Darnold, the guy they let walk, their new quarterback is unavailable. The plan made sense, but as Russini points out, it’s hard not to question how they got it so wrong.

The Vikings took a massive and costly swing this offseason, spending more than any NFC team. They walked away from 14-game winner Sam Darnold. They lost Daniel Jones to the Indianapolis Colts. They passed on four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. From everything I’ve gathered, money wasn’t the hang-up in any of those situations; it was ultimately all about betting on J.J. McCarthy.

The 40-year-old coach’s point: NFL teams cycle through young quarterbacks and often have only themselves to blame. And now O’Connell, staring at that potential scenario in real time, is doing everything to keep this ship from sinking on his watch, even as the waves get taller by the week.

This could be the reset the Vikings desperately need. Right now, the question ringing through the building and across the league is impossible to ignore: “Why did you ever let Sam Darnold go?”

Dianna Russini – The Athletic

Realistically it’s probably not as straightforward as “Why did you ever let Sam Darnold go?” There are $100 million reasons for that answer. The bigger question is why Daniel Jones wasn’t told he would start, despite a decent offer. Or maybe why wasn’t Aaron Rodgers given more thought?

At any rate, McCarthy has flopped, and now the Vikings need to figure things out in both the short and long term. For the immediate future, the answer is Brosmer. What happens from there remains to be seen. He can make a statement on Sunday against the Seahawks, though.

As of Tuesday morning, the MN Vikings have yet to make any official decisions on who will play quarterback in Seattle six days from now, when they face their 2024 interim QB turned 2025 MVP candidate, Sam Darnold and his 8-3 Seahawks.

It’s (almost certainly) Max Brosmer season for MN Vikings

But in reality, their choice has already been made, whether they make the announcement today, tomorrow or later in the week. We know head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings medical staff err on the side of caution with most injuries, especially those in between the ears.

Multiple Vikings players have already suffered concussions this season, and every time the player has taken at least one game off, before getting back on the field. And even then, both Ryan Kelly and Jeff Okudah have fallen a second time to head injuries, immediately after returning from their first

So… short of some unforeseen medical miracle, it will be former Minnesota Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer starting under center for the pro team on Sunday in Seattle.

If JJ McCarthy cannot clear through concussion protocol in time, rookie undrafted free-agent QB Max Brosmer would start Sunday vs. Seattle.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 24, 2025

Obviously, it’s difficult seeing JJ McCarthy’s NFL career take another unexpected turn for the worse. For a young quarterback that needs as much development as he does, this is yet another setback that the National Champion out of Michigan could not afford.

On the other side of the coin, however, this is one of those opportunities that young depth QBs only get a few times during their NFL career, if unsuccessful.

The opportunity of a lifetime for Brosmer

But that also means the one-and-done Gopher will (more than likely) get a chance to put himself on the NFL QB map and earn himself a dream job for the foreseeable future.

In his one year as a Minnesota Gopher, following a couple of MVP-caliber seasons at FCS New Hampshire, Max Brosmer threw for 2,828 yards, 18 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while setting a U of M record for completion percentage, at 66.5%.

If Max Brosmer actually turns into the Brock Purdy to JJ McCarthy's Trey Lance, I might be insufferable on this app 😂 https://t.co/c7ieeYXytN pic.twitter.com/IVTkvaT68B

— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) November 24, 2025

Even if he proves himself as serviceable and nothing more, Max Brosmer will earn himself a helmet and clipboard on an NFL sideline as a backup QB for the next decade, while he collects tens of millions of dollars in the process.

And if Brosmer is better than serviceable… well, that could set the entire QB plan at TCO Performance Center ablaze. Which brings us to the ultimate question, as we inch closer and closer to Sunday.

With JJ McCarthy under center, the Minnesota Vikings offense was absolutely horrible, inarguably the worst in the league. So is s there any way that a 2025 undrafted free agent quarterback like Brosmer can actually make the MN Vikings offense look better than it did with the 2024 No. 10 overall pick running the show?

Setting expectations for Brosmer as Minnesota Vikings QB1

On its face, the idea itself seems a bit ridiculous. If Max had that type of arm talent, there’s no way he would have made it through seven rounds in last April’s draft right? For those who haven’t followed the one-and-done Gopher’s career the last two years, it’ll be difficult to see past that perfectly rational way of thinking.

Thus, throughout the rest of this week you will hear and read NFL pundits, both national and local, speak with trepidation, when talking about any success that Max Brosmer might experience this weekend at the Cappuccino Capital.

Well, Minnesota sports fam… I am not that pundit. Because I have watched and followed Max Brosmer as closely as anyone outside of a few Gopher football beat reporters. I’ve watched every snap, every press conference, and taken note of any time teammates and/or coaches have talked about the 24-year old out of Roswell, GA.

What do you got for me mister Max Brosmer https://t.co/KIeqFgN840 pic.twitter.com/4AmLFtwGxl

— ethan (@whosethquan) November 24, 2025

Related: NFL Insider Says New QB Coming for MN Vikings

So, with my Max Brosmer credentials now out in the open, let me be the first to say CONFIDENTLY that the Minnesota Vikings offense, with the former Gopher under center, will ABSOLUTELY look like an upgraded version of what it did, while JJ McCarthy was playing quarterback.

How is that possible? Well, let’s start with the premise that Max Brosmer is an undrafted rookie free agent. I said it going into the draft, and I’ve been screaming it from the rooftops since.

New MN Vikings QB NEVER should have gone undrafted

There is no logical explanation for Max going undrafted, something that the rest of the football world is going to start coming to terms with over the next week or two. No, Brosmer won’t blow anyone away with his arm, but it’s more than formidable, even at this level.

Want some more deficiencies? I don’t have any. Seriously, the fact that this kid went undrafted is a crime against football humanity. And that isn’t a new take made in hindsight, either. Here I am back in August, admonishing every NFL general manager that somehow passed on Brosmer during the draft.

If I am an NFL owner, I'm firing everyone in my scouting department who ignored or passed on Max Brosmer during the draft.

With everything teams have at their disposal in 2025, a talented P4 QB should NEVER slip thru the cracks. It's pure INCOMPETENCE and/or LAZINESS. pic.twitter.com/FFcXOblx0l

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) August 13, 2025

What I do have is a couple of QB superpowers he possesses, that no matter his draft stock, have made me a staunch believer in Max Brosmer, whose most impressive characteristic his massive football brain and second to none work ethic.

Seriously, the kid — who has a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science and plans to pursue a Master’s degree in kinesiology — comes off to everybody who hangs around him as a football genius. Here’s what PJ Fleck said about Brosmer about a year and a half ago, just a few months after he arrived on campus about two years ago.

“I think you start with the intangibles. They’re through the roof. If you look at the the quarterbacks we’ve had a lot of success with, whether Western Michigan or Minnesota, the intangibles go through the roof. And that’s the first thing that you see when you meet him. I think any successful quarterback has to have that piece.

It can’t be all of it because you got to have some skill and some talent and all that other stuff, but the intangibles, you feel like he’s already been here for 30 years. I’ve never seen a person walk into a situation may be probably more uncomfortable of a situation because you’re the new guy and connect as many people as quickly as he has.”

PJ Fleck on Max Brosmer’s arrival at the University of Minnesota – March 24, 2024

It’s stuff like this that convinced the Minnesota Vikings during training camp that they could not afford to cut Max Brosmer, and why they have shuffled the QB room AROUND him all season, no matter how desperate they were for more veteran help.

Because Kevin O’Connell knows what I and a few others know. That Max could very well be the next Brock Purdy.

Why Max Brosmer will look better than other MN Vikings QBs

Where fans will see Max’s big brain in action is with his pre-snap processing abilities, and even more so, with how quickly he goes through his reads/progressions, especially when under pressure, something that will immediately stand out compared to what we saw with McCarthy.

The reason why Minnesota’s offense has been so god-awful this season is because it’s been operated by two quarterbacks who struggle to play on time and in rhythm. KOC designs his offense for the ball to come out in specific windows.

When it doesn’t everything gets thrown off, which is part of the reason why we have seen so many drops already this year. To the untrained eye, some of these butter finger moments are inexcusable.

But to those watching closely, it’s clear the quarterback deserves just as much blame as the receivers dropping his late passes. If there is anything we can expect out of Brosmer this weekend, it’s that he will play on-time and within the rhythm of O’Connell’s offense. Because that is where he excels as a QB.

Every Max Brosmer throw from Vikings' preseason finale: 15 of 23, 161 yards, 1 TD (and one 40-yard drop).

Impressive stuff from the undrafted rookie. pic.twitter.com/X1prSxbvI9

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 23, 2025

Related: Vikings Leave Green Bay Down Two More Linemen

And if Max plays on time, that in and of itself should make the Minnesota Vikings offense at least worth watching, which has not been the case most games this season. Anything above and beyond that, and honestly, I start seriously wondering if JJ McCarthy will ever have a chance to get his job back.

That may sound crazy to those who have not watched Max Brosmer as closely as I have. But really, all the former Gopher — who is two years older than McCarthy and threw double the amount of passes he did in college — has to do to look better than his concussed predecessor is not look like a chicken with his head cut off.

Unlike JJ, Max is Mr. Calm, Cool and Collected. He’s never too high, never too low. There will be no emotional rollercoaster with Brosmer, win or lose. And that is something his teammates will feel in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage.

The football world doesn’t know it yet, but Max Brosmer is the real deal, and everyone who passed on him last April is about to come to that realization too.

So buckle up, MN Vikings fans… because it’s very possible that, after Sunday, we are going to have mass chaos in our favorite football team’s quarterback room.