As expected, a reunion between Carson Wentz and the Vikings will be taking place. Team and player agreed to terms on Thursday, Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. The team has since announced the news. 
It was recently reported a mutual interest existed between Minnesota and the veteran quarterback. Wentz saw time in 2025 filling in for J.J. McCarthy before a shoulder injury required season-ending surgery. McCarthy is still in the fold, but so is free agent signing Kyler Murray.
Murray is widely expected to win out a competition for the starting gig this summer as he looks to rebuild his value working with head coach Kevin O’Connell. McCarthy’s rookie contract runs through 2027, but a path to the QB1 spot may not exist with the Vikings if Murray’s debut campaign goes well. In any event, Wentz’s return will give the team another experienced option as it seeks out improved play under center. Wentz, 33, has totaled 99 starts in his career.
The former second overall pick was linked to the Jets earlier this month. Wentz has a history with Frank Reich, who became New York’s offensive coordinator during this year’s hiring cycle. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic confirms the Jets had interest in Wentz. He adds, however, Wentz’s preference was to return to the Vikings. Today’s news limits the number of veteran passers still on the market for the Jets if they aim to add another one.
Wentz made a strong Vikings debut in Week 3, but the injury suffered two games later proved to be a major impediment. With McCarthy still sidelined at the time, Wentz made another two starts and struggled with accuracy. Surgery ended his campaign, one during which Minnesota was unable to find a sustainable answer under center. After falling short of a playoff spot at 9-8, increased efficiency on offense will be critical in 2026 for the Vikings. Murray will likely be tasked with helping the unit take a step forward, but it is certainly not a good sign for McCarthy’s prospects of playing time next season that another veteran has been acquired early in the new league year.
The Vikings entered Thursday near the bottom of the league in cap space. This Wentz deal will no doubt be a low-cost investment, and it will presumably be similar in terms to the one-year, $1.42MM pact he played on in 2025.
Man they’re front office cat Mae up their mind who they want and don’t want. Signing Murray and now wentz with a first rd pick also there is a head scratcher. The way they handled Aaron Jones too is just clueless. Jefferson has got to want to run out of there as fast as possible.
I don’t think it’s a mark of indecision to want extra quarterbacks around when all your quarterbacks have had trouble staying healthy. Besides, the last two teams that had Wentz before the Vikings had him attempt fewer than 25 passes. It’s OK if he’s just a guy on the sideline.
Thank goodness. Wentz is fine as a backup, and with Murray’s injury history they needed someone competent.
A JJ trade has to be incoming, no way they keep him around as the third QB unless there’s absolutely no interest.
I totally agree….Cardinals, Steelers feel like the logical landing place…..
McCarthy is taking up less than 2% of their cap so they don’t need to dump him yet. Max Brosmer would be the QB casualty in any event.
It’s not about the cap, it’s about the awkwardness of him going from franchise QB to scout team QB. Locker room dynamics matter. It’s not “giving up” when his “valuable” rookie deal is running out and he’s going to need an extension anyway. Get what you can before he’s gone for nothing.
Rams? sit behind Stafford and learn from Mcvay
3 QB is absolutely part of the game now. Especially moving to 17 games and in the concussion era, the average number of teams to start a single qb all season is low. Allegedly 11 per year, but I haven’t had time to verify it. But the point is, Wentz is still likely the QB3 and doesn’t mean you have to move JJ at all.
No way Wentz signs with the Vikings when he had other options if he’s behind JJ. Just not a logical thought process.
Feels like JJ is headed out if a trade happens draft day 🤔
JJ to the Jets.
Interesting QB room