The Vikings’ quarterback situation took an odd turn when the team settled its 53-man roster, and the decision could put Kevin O’Connell in a bind fast.
Kyler Murray is the starter, and that part was never really in doubt. What was less settled was the backup job, especially after O’Connell left open the possibility that someone could challenge J.J.
McCarthy for QB2 before the 2026 NFL season. For a while, it looked like Carson Wentz had done enough in camp and preseason to be the clearer choice behind Murray.
Given how the preseason and training camp played out, carrying three quarterbacks would have made sense. Plenty of teams go light at the position, but Minnesota chose a different path and created a problem of its own making.
Rather than sorting through McCarthy and Max Brosmer, the Vikings kept both of them and ended up holding all four quarterbacks. That kind of indecision at the sport’s most important position is hard to ignore.
The ripple effect matters just as much. By using a roster spot on an extra quarterback, Minnesota cut into the space available for someone who could have helped elsewhere, whether on special teams or as depth at a thinner spot like center or edge rusher. Instead, the spot went to a quarterback who was described as frustrating and disappointing in practices and the preseason.
That decision also meant passing on players such as running back Zavier Scott, defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk, and safety Tavierre Thomas. Those are the kinds of names who might have filled a role and contributed in other ways, which is why the choice to keep the crowded QB room stands out.
It would not have been easy to move on from McCarthy or Brosmer, but roster-building often comes down to exactly those uncomfortable calls. If there isn’t a larger plan in place, keeping both young quarterbacks around doesn’t make much sense.
One possibility is that the Vikings are trying to create some kind of trade value for McCarthy rather than simply releasing him, since other quarterback-needy teams could be willing to take a shot on the former first-rounder. Another is that Minnesota could be holding off on releasing Brosmer in hopes of getting him to the practice squad once other teams have already settled their quarterback rooms.
If neither of those plans is in motion, then carrying four quarterbacks looks like a major mistake - one that could come back to haunt the Vikings sooner rather than later.
In Other News...
Vikings Already Reworking Their Roster As More Moves Loom
The Vikings trimmed down to their initial 53-man roster, then immediately started reshaping it by claiming two offensive linemen off waivers and clearing room with another round of cuts. Quarterback Max Brosmer and wide receiver Dillon Bell were both on the first version of the final roster, only to be waived shortly after as Minnesota continued to adjust the back end of the roster.
Brosmer and Bell could still circle back to the organization if they clear waivers and land on the practice squad, but for now their status reflects just how unsettled things remain in Minnesota. With the opener approaching, the Vikings still appear to have more sorting to do, and this latest shuffle suggests the roster picture may not settle for a while yet. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Practice Squad Is Taking Shape With One Decision Still Looming
The Vikings practice squad is starting to come into focus after the team filled most of the spots with familiar names from training camp. Fifteen players landed on the unit, giving Minnesota a group that already knows the system and has spent much of the summer around the building. Among the players on the list are DaVeawn Armstead, Michael Briscoe and Jack Nelson, along with several others who were part of the teams recent camp work.
One decision still hangs over the group, though, and it could shape the final look of the squad. Minnesota waived quarterback Max Brosmer and wide receiver Dillon Bell to make room for new waiver claims, and both could still circle back as the Vikings sort through the last bit of roster business. For a team that likes continuity on the back end of the roster, the final choice will say plenty about which developmental pieces the Vikings want closest at hand. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Final Cuts Just Changed Everything For These Fringe Survivors
The Vikings first 53-man roster of the 2026 season brought some clarity, and it also gave a handful of fringe players a real foothold as the team moved through cut-down day. Among the names still standing are punter Brett Thorson, halfback Demond Claiborne, offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan and edge rusher Chaz Chambliss, each of whom did enough in the preseason to stay in the conversation as Minnesota sorted out the back end of the roster.
For players in that group, surviving the initial cuts is only part of the battle, because the roster remains fluid before the regular season begins. But the fact that Minnesota kept them around says plenty about how the staff viewed their camp work and how each might fit if the Vikings need depth, special teams help or a surprise contributor once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]