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.