Carson Wentz remains unsigned deep into August, but he is receiving interest. The veteran quarterback is meeting with the Vikings today, ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry reports. 
Minnesota expectedly allowed Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones to depart in free agency this offseason, leaving J.J. McCarthy in place to handle starting duties. The 2024 first-rounder’s development will be central to the Vikings’ success, but the depth chart behind him is clearly still a point of focus late in the summer.
The Vikings swung a trade for Sam Howell during the draft, setting up the former Commander and Seahawk to work in the backup gig for one season. Howell did not take part in yesterday’s preseason finale, however. Instead, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer along with veteran Brett Rypien handled quarterback duties against the Titans. Their fates are uncertain with Tuesday’s roster cut deadline looming.
Already carrying four signal-callers, Minnesota does not represent a team in immediate need of new depth under center. Wentz will receive a look, however, and it will presumably include spending time with a familiar face. The Vikings’ quarterbacks coach is Josh McCown, who served as Wentz’s backup with the Eagles in 2019. That represented the final year of McCown’s playing career; he has been on the Vikings’ staff since 2024.
Wentz has bounced around the NFL since his five-year Philadelphia tenure came to an end. The former No. 2 pick has spent single campaigns with the Colts, Commanders, Rams and Chiefs over the past four years. Wentz was destined to find himself on the move once again when Kansas City added Gardner Minshew for the QB2 role. He was linked to the Browns in March, but Cleveland went in a number of different directions to fill out its depth chart.
As a result, Wentz – who has 94 starts to his name but only one from each of the past two campaigns – remains available. The 32-year-old would certainly add a high degree of experience to Minnesota’s QB room as the team prepares to rely on McCarthy following his season-long 2024 injury absence. The Vikings currently have $32MM in cap space, so a one-year Wentz accord should not prove to be challenging provided his visit produces an offer.
Sign him
1. McCarthy
2. Brosmer
3. Wentz
Wentz would not be third. If he gets signed he is two. No coach is going into a season with the top two QBs having no nfl experience. Look at Cleveland they could do it but have already named Flacco 1.
Brosmer is better than Wentz
I suppose Wentz was the preferred choice over Tarvaris Jackson and Christian Ponder…lol.
Especially since Tarvaris is no longer alive.
Lots of bad backup QB play this weekend, thus I would guess at least a half dozen teams might be interested.
I like the fit, actually, even though the Vikings seem to have several backups. Wentz has more starting experience and has had more success than the other candidates, and when you have a first year starter who is young, that experience (again, as an actual starter, not just “years in the league”) is valuable. I don’t dislike Howell, but Wentz (despite the instant negative reactions he seems to draw) has more value in that role in my opinion.
Plus, Wentz has worked in McVay’s offense that carries many similarities with O’Connell’s. There should be some overlap there.
I wonder why teams are still interested in him.
The Vikings are interested in him because Howell and Rypien are bad and Bosmer is an unknown.
Watched the highlights on utube and was taken with the reaction from that Brosmer kid. Got the ball out quick and has quite the snap on the throws.
Not a knowledgeable Vikings fan here, the question is how is the O line? If it’s not elite he gets happy feet real fast and while running around holds the ball too long trying to play hero ball for the big play, leading to errant throws etc. Nobody has been able to coach him into being a game manager.
As for the negative reaction, it’s people letting their politics show. He’s a big faith based guy and has a faith based organization he started and has tattooed on him so you can tell how he votes. Those who despise that type of person get triggered at just the mention of him. There’s a radio guy here in Philly who to this day still goes after him. They hide behind his sudden decline to go after him but really shouldn’t you be over that? But his detractors aren’t (which is kinda psycho) so that tells you what the negativity is really about. Having not met success after his time here hurts his cause bc it covers up the true nature of the stalker-like hatred that follows him.
He was a bad starter for three teams in three seasons, with the last two regretting trades for him. That’s not because of politics.
Talking about the hatred toward him, not the criticism of his play, and I gave a fair critique of him. Maybe you have to be from here to see it.
Philly holding outsized grudges? What a rare occurrence that can only possibly be about politics.
You don’t give up do you. Nor do you get it. I guess you just need a last word? I think my post was pretty clearly worded and straight forward.
Yeah and I think it’s silly. Politics aren’t the reason fans rag on him any more than politics are the reason he’s been on five teams in five years.
People who act like that don’t understand or believe they act like that.
lol
Sometimes players just need the right coaching environment to improve – look to Geno Smith and Darnold both weren’t thought to be worth spit yet both improved in different places.
Wentz has been in a LOT of places now.
@Shackleton: You’re a fool if you think this is about his politics.
The hatred toward him is. Not the general criticism. Third time now.
The sane said ok enough he’s gotta go. The non-sane still after years come after him with a vile hatred and mentally can’t move on. That’s not about a qb who regressed and had to go. That’s derangement, and yes it does happen.
I think I’ve explained it very simple and clear.
Criticizing or not being excited about the signing isn’t political derangement. There, I spoke slower.
The level hatred years later, is.
Was that slow enough to get?
Point is, Vikings fans, its probably a nothing signing but you’re gonna see locker room cancer baloney and hate, just roll your eyes at that aspect. That’s all
“I think I’ve explained it very simple and clear.”
And no one agrees with you. If it were true, then there’d be hatred towards most of the members of the Phillies (because guess what kind of politics are prevalent among MLB players). Also Hurts is just as “faith-based” as Wentz.
“That’s not about a qb who regressed and had to go.”
It is 100% about that but you’re out here playing Wentz as a victim because of his faith and politics. Silly.
He’s not a victim, he got in the doghouse of his own doing.
The fact that years later it continues s the point, it isn’t simple usual sports anger, it’s rage and derangement. Extended and continued rage and derangement is always due to the overly political doing what they do even when the topic and field isn’t political.
He is a Viking now with Howell going to Philly. Time to step up and keep his playing career going. If McCarthy falters or gets hurt, he will have his chance.