When Kyler Murray headed back to the locker room during the Minnesota Vikings’ win over the Green Bay Packers, it sparked some confusion online about what the team could actually do at quarterback.
The short version: Carson Wentz was the backup, J.J. McCarthy was the emergency quarterback, and those labels come with very specific rules.
For starters, the emergency quarterback is technically inactive on game day. His name appears on the inactive list 90 minutes before kickoff, and he has to be designated there in advance.
That player can only enter if both the No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks are unavailable because of injury or disqualification. The emergency quarterback cannot be used just because the offense is struggling. If Carson Wentz had thrown six interceptions, the Vikings still would have had to stick with him as long as he was medically cleared to keep playing, unless he got himself ejected for something.
There’s another wrinkle too: if the emergency quarterback gets into the game and then one of the top two quarterbacks becomes available again, the emergency quarterback has to leave immediately in favor of the active quarterback. If that active quarterback gets hurt again, the emergency option can return.
And there’s one more hard rule. The emergency quarterback has to be on the 53-man roster.
“The Emergency Third Quarterback must be on the club’s 53-player roster; the player cannot be an elevated Practice Squad player. The club’s starting quarterback (QB1) and its backup quarterback (QB2) must also be on the club’s 53-player roster.”
That means a team can’t simply elevate someone from the practice squad and label him the emergency quarterback. That’s where things could get complicated for the Vikings if Murray can’t go against Chicago.
If Murray is out this coming Sunday and Minnesota wants to carry three quarterbacks for the Bears game, the team would have to release or waive someone from the main roster in order to sign Max Brosmer from the practice squad. That would leave the Vikings with four quarterbacks on the main roster until Murray is healthy again, while creating a hole elsewhere on the roster.
The league’s full “letter of the law” wording is available elsewhere, but the basic structure is clear enough. And given how this season has gone, it sounds like this rule may come up again before long.
In Other News...
Kyler Murrays Vikings Debut Just Took A Frightening Turn
Kyler Murrays first appearance in a Vikings uniform took a harsh turn before it could really settle into a rhythm. The quarterback was struck helmet-to-helmet by Packers safety Javon Bullard, a hit that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty and quickly changed the feel of the game for Minnesota, especially with Murray then forced to leave and backup Carson Wentz stepping in.
For a team still trying to build any momentum around its new quarterback, the sight of Murray heading to the sideline was the biggest storyline of the day. Medical expert David J. Chao said the footage showed neurological signs consistent with a concussion, leaving the Vikings to sort through a debut that was supposed to answer questions and instead raised a much more unsettling one. [Read more 🡒]
Kyler Murrays First Vikings Snap Was Already Hard To Ignore
Kyler Murray arrived in Minnesota with plenty to prove, and he wasted no time making his presence felt in a quarterback battle that had been watched closely all summer. After signing a one-year deal following his release from Arizona, Murray went head-to-head with J.J. McCarthy in training camp and eventually earned the Week 1 nod from coach Kevin OConnell, a decision that signaled a fresh start for both player and team.
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Vikings Backup Decision Just Changed Everything In Green Bay
Kevin OConnells backup quarterback choice suddenly mattered a whole lot more once Kyler Murray locked in the starting job, and for the Vikings it put Carson Wentz in the spotlight as the No. 2 behind him instead of J.J. McCarthy. The move looked like a depth-chart decision on paper, but it became the kind of call that shapes a game when Wentz was pressed into action early in the season opener against the Packers.
Wentz responded by helping turn a difficult start into a 39-22 comeback win in Green Bay, settling in quickly and finding Justin Jefferson for multiple scores. He finished 12 of 19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns, a performance that did more than steady the Vikings for one afternoon. It also gave Minnesota a backup situation that now looks a lot more consequential than it did when camp ended. [Read more 🡒]