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.

But Monday morning, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell, JJ McCarthy woke up searching for his thoughts. And when he entered TCO Performance Center, he was placed in concussion protocol. The Vikings claim they do not know when JJ’s head injury occurred, though that seems unlikely (keep reading).

Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell said QB J.J. McCarthy reported some symptoms in regard to his head on the travel home. Evaluated last night. Training staff and doctors decided to put him in the protocol. He'll go through process this week.

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) November 24, 2025

Head Coach Kevin O’Connell says that QB J.J. McCarthy is in the concussion protocol. pic.twitter.com/BbhapR9TKT

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 24, 2025

McCarthy threw for just 87 yards against the Packers, completing 12 of 19 passes and throwing 2 interceptions (0 TDs). It was one of the worst performances in recent Minnesota Vikings QB history, reminiscent of legendary clunkers like “The Josh Freeman” and “Donovan McNabb Games”.

Minnesota Vikings claim ignorance on timing of JJ McCarthy injury

But does the kid QB’s head injury shed additional light on yesterday’s historically bad performance? The answer is no, because while the MN Vikings may be unwilling to tell us when exactly JJ McCarthy’s concussion occured on Sunday afternoon, anyone with a DVR can go back and find the exact play.

It happened with just over 5 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, when McCarthy scrambled for ten yards before being tackled by Green bay linebacker Isaiah McDuffie, who led the Packers Sunday with 9 tackles, one of which clearly concussed Minnesota’s young quarterback.

The Vikings claim they do not know when JJ McCarthy suffered his concussion yesterday… 👀🫣 pic.twitter.com/ccEThk8cPD

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) November 24, 2025

Related: NFL Insider Says New QB Coming for MN Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have been very careful all season, when dealing with head injuries on their roster. Even so, they’ve still had multiple players dealing with recurring concussions.

Newly acquired center Ryan Kelly has spent most of the season watching from the sidelines or his own couch, after suffering two documented concussions between weeks 2 and 4.

Jeff Okudah has been out since October 23, after suffering his second head injury of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers. Thus, we can expect them to be extremely careful with young JJ McCarthy. And given how poorly he has played, the offense won’t be begging to get him back either.

Max Brosmer SZN…?

If indeed McCarthy cannot play against the Seahawks on Sunday, former Minnesota Gophers QB Max Brosmer will make his starting debut for the MN Vikings.

And if he does, I have no doubt fans will see a much different offense than what we did with the other kid QB under center. Honestly, it seems like the head coach knows that too.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell has a ton of confidence in Max Brosmer if he needed to start in place of J.J. McCarthy on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/RwYOYfKceY

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 24, 2025

Related: Vikings Leave Green Bay Down Two More Linemen

Last year, in his only season as a Minnesota Gopher, Max Brosmer threw for 2,828 yards, 18 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He also set a school record for completion percentage, at 66.5%.

His strengths are pre-snap reads and quickly going through progressions, two categories that McCarthy was severely lacking. At 24 years old (241 days) Max is also nearly two full years older than 22-year-old (308 days) JJ.

Against the Bears, McCarthy wasn’t just underwhelming — something Vikings fans have gotten used to through nine games this season — he was downright bad. All year, he has struggled to see open receivers and throw on time.

Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears – JJ McCarthy hits rock bottom

But more recently, JJ has been losing his accuracy too, a problem that hit a new level on Sunday when McCarthy needed to complete his final five passes just to get back to a 50% completion rate, which he did, finishing 16-of-32 on the day.

Entering the fourth quarter, Minnesota trailed 16-3, in large part because of McCarthy’s Josh Freeman-like accuracy throughout the game. Going into that final drive, the Michigan alum was an absolutely brutal 10-of-24 passing for 84 yards and 2 interceptions.

JJ McCarthy with a GREAT throw to Kevin Byard.

🔥🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/azBMmflTck

— Caleb Williams Fan Club (@CalebFC18) November 16, 2025

⚠️JJ McCarthy on the @Vikings Opening drive
– Underthrows a wide open Jordan Addison
– Overthrows a wide open Justin Jefferson#Skol pic.twitter.com/XwLpcwp9LY

— Intrinsic (@intrinsicvalyou) November 16, 2025

Former Gopher Coney Durr calls for Vikings to play Max Brosmer

For much of Sunday afternoon, the Vikings QB was so bad that most of the football world was calling for head coach Kevin O’Connell to pull JJ McCarthy out of the game, in exchange for one-and-done Minnesota Gopher, Max Brosmer. Of those making their case online was another former Gopher, CB Coney Durr.

Max Brosmer and Coney Durr never played together at the University of Minnesota. The former was there in 2024, the latter made his name in Dinkytown from 2016 to 2021. During the peak of McCarthy’s failures today, Durr tweeted “PLAY Max Brosmer!!!”

PLAY Max Brosmer!!!

— Coney Durr (@CD16ERA) November 16, 2025

Durr started 55 games in maroon and gold, during his six collegiate seasons. When his time as a Gopher was all said and done, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana native amassed 144 tackles, 10 TFL, 2 sacks, 26 passes defended and 4 interceptions — one of which was returned for a touchdown.

Coney Durr has tried out for multiple NFL teams, since his time as a Gopher, but has never found his way onto a roster. This past preseason, he failed to make the Houston Texans roster, in his latest attempt at making the league.

JJ McCarthy saves his job as MN Vikings starter… for one more week

Shortly after Durr and others (me) were begging Kevin O’Connell to remove McCarthy, he went 6-of-8 on his final drive for 75 yards and what would have been the game-winning touchdown pass to Jordan Addison.

.@jjmccarthy09 ➡️ Jordan Addison

And the #Vikings are on top!

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/nTxo282JPi

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 16, 2025

Related: Former Viking Clinging to Life After NYC Shooting

Unfortunately, 50 seconds after the Minnesota Vikings took a 17-16 lead, the Bears returned the ensuing kickoff into Vikings territory, before a few run plays got them into range for a Santos 48-yard winner at buzzer.

JJ McCarthy’s final drive may have saved his job for one more week, but he needs to get better fast because the guys inside of that locker room are going to start demanding Max Brosmer too. And once that starts, even KOC won’t be able to protect his prized first round quarterback from the locally adopted UDFA.

But the Lions aren’t nearly as desperate for a victory Sunday as the Vikings, who will start redshirt rookie JJ McCarthy for the first time since week two and just the third time of his NFL career. At 3-4, a loss could all but mathematically eliminate Minnesota from the NFC playoff picture.

Even after the NFL postseason expanded to three wild card teams a few years ago, it’s extremely possible that all NFC wild card teams in 2025-26 will reach at least 10 regular season wins. If they lose today in Detroit, the MN Vikings would have to go 7-2 against the remainder of their schedule to reach a 10-7 final record.

And even if a season turnaround like that is realistic, it’ll be difficult for Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to operate on Monday and Tuesday, in the hours leading up the NFL Trade Deadline, as if his team is expecting to make the postseason.

Minnesota Vikings looking for QB help at NFL Trade Deadline?

Still, at least for now, it doesn’t sound like the Minnesota Vikings have any plans to act as sellers, prior to the deadline buzzer going off at 3 p.m. CST on November 4.

In fact, according to Adam Schefter (ESPN), they are still in the market for a veteran quarterback who can make the coaching staff feel more comfortable about who is in the QB room with JJ McCarthy and Max Brosmer.

The Vikings did not want to head into this season without an experienced veteran backup quarterback…If that was Minnesota’s thought process before the season, sources believe it would be the same now, with the Vikings still needing an experienced veteran backup quarterback for J.J. McCarthy.

League sources believe Minnesota still could make a move for a quarterback by Tuesday’s deadline.

Adam Schefter – ESPN

Related: JJ McCarthy and Sam Darnold Didn’t Get Along in Minnesota?

This is mildly surprising, because of how late it is in the season. Sure, bringing in a quarterback over the age of 25 isn’t a bad idea. Afterall, JJ McCarthy and Max Brosmer have combined to throw just 49 passes in their young NFL careers.

But where are the MN Vikings going to find a QB who they can integrate into the offense seamlessly, with just half of the 2025 regular season remaining? Are they that afraid of playing Max Brosmer, and if so… why?

What QBs could the Vikings be interested in?

We just watched five games of Carson Wentz attempting to operate an offense he has no business playing in, and the results were a complete train wreck. If nothing else, Brosmer knows the offense, will play fast and hit open receivers, three things that Wentz struggled with.

And I am NOT convinced that any of the veteran quarterbacks mentioned by Schefter as possible options for the Minnesota Vikings — Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston — would do it better than Brosmer, given the situation they’d be coming into.

Kirk Cousins would make sense, but the Falcons haven’t shown any willingness to trade him, and Atlanta needs an experienced veteran backup of its own. The Giants also have two experienced backups in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.

Adam Schefter – ESPN

Related: New Name Added to “Official” Vikings Injury Report, but Don’t Tell KOC

While they’re expected to bring in a third option to sit behind JJ McCarthy and Max Brosmer at some point this week, the Vikings will now rely on two quarterbacks who have combined for a total of 49 regular season pass attempts.

Kevin O’Connell reveals Minnesota Vikings starter

Up until Tuesday, while it had been reported that JJ McCarthy would be back under center as Minnesota’s starter in week 9, though there was no official report from the team on his readiness to retake that starting job.

That was until Kevin O’Connell got on KFAN Radio with Paul Allen late this morning and revealed that the redshirt rookie 1st round pick will indeed get the start in Detroit, with the true rookie UDFA backing him up.

“As far as actual game action, JJ [McCarthy] is going to start his third game against the Detroit Lions coming up this Sunday.”

Kevin O’Connell – KFAN

JJ McCarthy will regain his title on Sunday, as MN Vikings starter. Whether or not he takes it and runs is a completely different question. During his first two starts, the 2024 No. 10 overall pick, McCarthy completed 24-of-41 for 301 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions and a 21.2 QBR.

If the Minnesota Vikings are going to need their prized draft pick to be much better than that if he is going to help turn their ship around and lead them to a playoff appearance in 2025-26. And if he can’t stay on the field… then maybe Max Brosmer can inject some life into this offense.

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.

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.

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”.

This morning, @TomPelissero reports that JJ McCarthy's ankle is not 100% yet and that the QB situation entering week 7 is "murky, to say the least"… 👀😵‍💫

"The Vikings quarterback situation is murky, to say the least… He should be able to return to practice this week, but… pic.twitter.com/UHnoyxpDqL

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 12, 2025

“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.

Max Brosmer looked extremely comfortable and accurate attacking between the hashes yesterday. Don’t think you can say that about the majority of undrafted QBs. pic.twitter.com/XlglGGsAnd

— Tanner Weber (@Purple_Post) August 10, 2025

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.

Titans show single-high, rotate post-snap to cover 2

Max Brosmer spots the rotation right away, speeds up his dropback and delivers a dart on the money for the hole shot to Fleming

This is high end QB play pic.twitter.com/p1bVhkI1K6

— Krauser (@Krauserrific) August 23, 2025

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.

Of course, that would be easier to do if they had a healthy quarterback room. Unfortunately, you can’t always get what you want, and heading into the bye, what the Vikings want is a healthy, competent QB. Instead, they have one healthy rookie UDFA who nobody projected would be here, just a couple months ago.

2024 No. 10 overall pick JJ McCarthy, who has been out since week three with a high ankle sprain. Head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed on Monday that McCarthy has begun working out and throwing again, the first step in a ramp up process that the Vikings hope will get him back on the field by week 7.

Minnesota Vikings worried about Carson Wentz’ status vs Eagles

Whether or not they can get him healthy and up to speed in less than two weeks, is yet to be determined. And that is what makes the Carson Wentz’ shoulder injury even more crucial to keep an eye on.

If their 32-year-old veteran can go against Philly, then Minnesota will have the luxury of being cautious with their prized redshirt rookie, should they so choose. But life in Vikings world is rarely that simple. And during that same Monday presser, KOC mentioned that they too are watching Wentz this week very closely.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell provides an update on Carson Wentz pic.twitter.com/WD1qLgdAi1

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 6, 2025

“Just to give you guys an update on Carson [Wentz]…he’s still getting further evaluation but he is pretty sore in that left shoulder so that will be something that we will be taking a look at throughout this week.”

Immediately when O’Connell gave the above update on Wentz, my antennas were up on who would be playing quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings on October 19 at U.S. Bank Stadium. If neither Wentz or McCarthy are healthy enough to go, the ball would default into the hands of former Minnesota Gophers QB Max Brosmer.

But will that actually happen? Well, let’s start with the fact that Carson Wentz isn’t just dealing with one shoulder injury, even if that’s what the Vikings would like us to believe. He’s dealing with two.

Carson Wentz dealing with multiple shoulder injuries

Shortly after the team made it back from London, Alec Lewis (The Athletic) reported that Wentz was dealing with a previously undisclosed injury in his other (right) shoulder, which he suffered in Dublin against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While Wentz’ week four shoulder injury didn’t make it on any of the week 5 injury reports leading up to Minnesota’s matchup last Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, it did reportely limit him in other areas of practice and life during the Vikings’ stay near London.

Per Lewis, his right shoulder was injured enough last week that the nine year veteran was not able to near 100% at practice. It also kept the avid golfer from hitting the historic golf course provided to the team at their hotel on the English countryside, with his teammates.

Wentz himself was hobbled. He couldn’t play golf on Tuesday with teammates because of the pounding he took last Sunday against the Steelers. In practice this week, he lobbed passes and tugged at his ribs.

Jefferson described him as “a soldier,” an apt tag when Wentz moseyed over to the blue medical tent in the second quarter. This time, he had dinged his left shoulder. Even he admitted that when he trotted up the tunnel for a more detailed evaluation, he was unsure whether he’d be back.

Alec Lewis (The Athletic)

That right shoulder injury is completely separate from the left shoulder injury he suffered against the Browns, meaning Wentz has double the problems this week than the Minnesota Vikings are leading on.

Minnesota Vikings do not know who will play QB vs Eagles

Throw in the uncertainty surrounding McCarthy’s return, and who knows who will start under center week 7, including those in Eagan. And that’s not just me opining, either.

According to Local insider Darren Wolfson (KSTP) — who was on SKOR North’s Purple Daily Podcast Thursday — the Vikings indeed have no clue whether or not McCarthy, Wentz or Brosmer will lead Minnesota vs Philadelphia in 10 days. QB depth chart 10 days prior to their next game.

An update on Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy from @DWolfsonKSTP:

"I think at some point, whether its next Wednesday or Thursday or both, [McCarthy's] going to be a full participant in practice… The Vikings do not know who their starting QB is 10 days from now."

(Via: @SKORNorth /… https://t.co/VZCmrvcHl1 pic.twitter.com/Xeec7qTIMA

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) October 9, 2025

That means, it’s possible we see any of the three Minnesota Vikings QBs take the field on October 19. We believe that, should he be ready, JJ McCarthy is their first choice. If he isn’t quite there yet, they want to hand the ball to Carson Wentz.

“I think at some point, whether its next Wednesday or Thursday or both, [McCarthy’s] going to be a full participant in practice… But as of today, October 9, the Vikings do not know who their starting QB is 10 days from now., October 19, against the Eagles. So, I don’t know…”

Darren Wolfson – Purple Daily (SKOR North)

But if neither is healthy enough to go, we could see the starting debut of former Minnesota Gopher himself, 2025 UDFA training camp and preseason standout, Max Brosmer.

And should that happens, and he plays well, it could light social media on fire and bring ALL SORTS of distractions to what has already been one hell of a 2025 Vikings rollercoaster for Kevin O’Connell & Co.

The good news — Our MN Vikings will reboot their year as a 3-2 football team and they could be a lot healthier, after head coach Kevin O’Connell brought lots of positive injury news to his press conference on Monday.

It sounds like LG Donovan Jackson could be back, along with backup C Michael Jurgens, ILB Blake Cashman and possibly even 2024 No. 10 overall draft pick, JJ McCarthy.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell expects J.J. McCarthy, Donovan Jackson, Blake Cashman, and Michael Jurgens to be returning to practice in different capacities next week. pic.twitter.com/NUZvJ9jmZF

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 6, 2025

When it comes to their redshirt rookie QB, however, lots of fog remains surrounding the redshirt rookie’s return timeline. Prior to O’Connell’s meeting with media yesterday, most Vikings fans and media had mostly accepted that the Vikings were going to hold McCarthy out until their second week back from the bye.

JJ McCarthy could return sooner than expected… kind of

If they slowplay JJ’s return (for injury reasons of course), it would put him in line to return week 8, when the MN Vikings fly West to face the Los Angeles Chargers. But that was before KOC confirmed Monday — after Jordan Addison originally broke the news — that JJ McCarthy has indeed returned to the TCO Performance practice field in Eagan.

The Vikings plan to have the redshirt rookie throwing throughout the bye, where they hope to ramp him up for a return to team practice early next week. That means JJ McCarthy returning as QB1 directly out of the bye is still a realistic possibility.

An update on JJ McCarthy:

The plan is for him to be at the #Vikings facility during the team’s bye week this week throwing with other players as he continues to advance back from his ankle injury, sources tell @CBSSports.

Minnesota faces the Eagles next week after the bye week. pic.twitter.com/cNiRJurEQb

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 7, 2025

“J.J. got some work today, and he’ll get some work the rest of the week. We’ll pick it up officially next week, but I’m encouraged about where he’s at right now.”

Kevin O’Connell during Monday’s press conference

But there was another note by Kevin O’Connell during his presser that stuck out and could make the recovery of JJ McCarthy even more intriguing to watch over the next two weeks.

Minnesota Vikings concerned about Carson Wentz’ health

After JJ’s replacement, Carson Wentz, left Sunday’s game in London against the Pittsburgh Steelers early with a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury, he goes into the bye week far from 100%. In fact, the Minnesota Vikings appear concerned about his readiness for week 7, when they come out of the bye.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell provides an update on Carson Wentz pic.twitter.com/WD1qLgdAi1

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 6, 2025

“Just to give you guys an update on Carson [Wentz], we did get back [from London] early this morning, so he is still getting further evaluation. But he is pretty sore in that left shoulder, so that will be something that we’ll be taking a look at throughout this week.”

Kevin O’Connell during Monday’s press conference

Related: Vikings’ Upcoming Opponent Loses Major Weapon on Offense

How sore is Carson Wentz? Well, according to The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, Wentz’ recent shoulder problems go back farther than week 5. Apparently, the Vikings’ 32-year-old QB2 — who was NOT listed at all on last week’s injury reports — was dealing with a right (thowing) shoulder ailment all last week in London, an injury he suffered in Dublin against the Steelers.

During practice last week, per Lewis’ report, Wentz wasn’t throwing near 100%. And when some of his teammates hit the British links to blow off some steam, the avid golfer was forced to stay back because his right shoulder was in too much pain and needed rest ahead of their game against the Browns.

Carson Wentz dealing with two shoulder injuries?

In the fourth quarter [week 5], Darrisaw, O’Neill, Kelly and injured quarterback J.J. McCarthy were all standing shoulder to shoulder watching the replacement group battle a Browns front deemed by many to be one of the league’s best. The image captured the early-season carnage.

Wentz himself was hobbled. He couldn’t play golf on Tuesday with teammates because of the pounding he took last Sunday against the Steelers. In practice this week, he lobbed passes and tugged at his ribs.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

Related: Vikings Make Roster Changes After Injury Update

Much like the rest of us, when Wentz hurt his left shoulder on Sunday morning, he too was extremely unsure of whether or not he’d be able to return for the third quarter. Fortunately he did, then proceeded to lead the Vikings on a last-minute game-winning touchdown drive.

Minnesota Vikings starting QB for vs Eagles is anyone’s guess

We have a dozen days between now and the MN Vikings next game, so there is time to figure all of this out. But as of Tuesday, October 7, it appears Kevin O’Connell & Co have very little idea of who will be the team’s starting quarterback week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

If both McCarthy and Wentz are available, the head coach will have a franchise altering decision to make. Should that be the scenario, he has already committed to bringing JJ back as the starter, so until he says otherwise, that’s the expectation.

If only one of the two is available, then the decision will be easy. But for now, it feels just as likely we see QB3, former Gopher, Max Brosmer make his first NFL start, as a UDFA rookie signee. If that happens, hang onto your hats…

God-willing, we will see JJ McCarthy throw the first pass of what we hope will be a Vikings career we go on to tell our future grandkids about. Of course, this is Minnesota and we need to be careful dreaming about greatness.

We all know how well that’s worked out in the past. Still, many fans continue to hold a quiet confidence in their young quarterback of the future, even if they continue to reserve their final McCarthy judgements until they see him perform with their own eyes (in a game that counts).

Until then, let’s focus on some less-imminent questions percolating in the Minnesota Vikings’ QB room. For example, who will back up our medical redshirt rookie quarterback (who’s coming off career-altering surgery that forced him to miss all of last season)?

The assumption, since last week, seems to point toward the new guy in the quarterback room, North Dakota native and former NDSU Bison, Carson Wentz.

On paper, going with the freshly signed veteran makes sense, especially when the only other quarterback available is undrafted rookie free agent and former Gopher, Max Brosmer.

Carson Wentz may not be ready for Minnesota Vikings week one?

Wentz is a former No. 2 overall draft pick who’s racked up 9 NFL seasons, where he’s thrown over 3,000 passes for 22,410 yards and 153 touchdowns. The other two, McCarthy and Brosmer, have thrown a combined 0 NFL passes.

But there’s a problem, Wentz just opened Kevin O’Connell’s playbook for the first time about a week ago. While Kevin O’Connell’s offensive schemes are lauded as being easier to understand for those in it, than it is for opposing defenses, in the moment.

Is it simple enough for the most important player on a football field to fully comprehend after just two weeks of cramming and working with new teammates? Probably not, something Carson Wentz admitted to reporters last week.

“It’s never easy. Been a new playbook every year for the past however many years for me now. There’s some overlap to some spots I’ve been in the past, which that definitely helps. But it’s still new language, still new things. But the guys have been great, the coaching staff, even Max (Brosmer) and J.J. (McCarthy) have been helpful already. Trying to dive in as quick as I can and figure it out. Think I’m doing OK so far.”

Carson Wentz on learning the Vikings offense (video courtesy of FOX9)

Related: Everyone’s Favorite New Viking Makes NFL Futures List

In a perfect Minnesota Vikings world, Carson Wentz would be on another NFL roster or still on his couch. This season’s QB2 was supposed to be Sam Howell, until he flopped during the preseason, sparking a trade out of town just months after the 25-year-old was plucked from that same market.

Could Max Brosmer be forced into Vikings QB2 duties week one?

It wasn’t just Howell’s camp failures that led to his early exit from TCO Performance Center, though. The Vikings were emboldened to move on from Sam Howell, in part due to the impression former Minnesota Gophers QB Max Brosmer made this summer.

Not only did Max Brosmer prove this preseason that he can rise to any NFL occasion thrown at him so far, he’s also in the midst of landing in two brand new football facilities in less than 1.5 years, and somehow thriving at both.

Max Brosmer: 2025 preseason highlights pic.twitter.com/BJ7aC1JJtb

— Krauser (@Krauserrific) August 26, 2025

Understandably, the local pro team still coveted a veteran presence for their 2025 QB room. Entering the regular season with two rookie quarterbacks, neither of which have played an NFL snap, is a massive risk for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

But would O’Connell really feel better about Carson Wentz under center, over Max Brosmer… when the former only walked through the doors two weeks before walking down the Monday Night Football tunnel at Soldier Field?

Wentz has some experience in a similar scheme, having spent 2023 as a backup for coach Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams. On his sixth team in as many seasons, he has been through schematic crash courses before. But he made clear upon his arrival that his task in the short term will be challenging.

Kevin Seifert – ESPN

Related: Academic Struggles Nearly Cost MN Vikings Superstar His Shine

Logically, if Wentz is slotted into the depth chart as Minnesota’s QB2 in Chicago, KOC would be forced to heavily dumb down the Vikings’ emergency backup game plan, offensively. Veteran or not, the 32-year-old is drinking O’Connell’s offense through a firehose right now.

We’ll find out at some point this week who will be the Minnesota Vikings’ QB2 in next week’s season opener. Until I see Carson Wentz listed above Brosmer on the week one depth chart, I’m going to assume the former Gopher will get that designation to start the year. From there, we’ll see if he ever gives it up.