Carson Wentz impressed the Vikings enough in 2025 that they decided to bring him back, raising further questions about J.J. McCarthy’s future.
A week after signing former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray in free agency, the Vikings struck a one-year deal with Wentz on Thursday, according to NFL Network.
Wentz, 33, started five games for the Vikings last season, throwing for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.
He took over in Week 3 after McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie year due to knee surgery, suffered a high-ankle sprain.
Minnesota went 2-3 in Wentz’s five starts before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
When McCarthy suffered injuries later in the season, the Vikings had to turn to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer since Wentz was on the shelf.
Now they’ve fortified their quarterback depth, though uncomfortable uncertainty surrounds McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
Sam Darnold led Minnesota to a 14-3 campaign when McCarthy was sidelined in 2024, but the club let him walk to Seattle, and he subsequently led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win.
The Vikings went 9-8 and missed the playoffs.
Minnesota went 6-4 in McCarthy’s 10 starts this past season, but he completed just 57.6 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Murray, 28, didn’t win a ton of games in Arizona and has his own injury risk but is well worth the chance on a minimum one-year, $1.3 million contract.
The Vikings’ quarterback competition will likely be one of the biggest storylines in the NFL over the summer as the team tries to get back into the postseason.
