The Minnesota Vikings once again have three quarterbacks on the roster after signing John Wolford to replace the injured Carson Wentz, but those three players have just six NFL starts between them.
Wolford hasn’t taken a snap since 2022, while undrafted rookie Max Brosmer has never taken a snap outside of garbage time. Second-year QB J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie campaign due to a knee injury, played eight quarters of professional football (seven of them poorly) before an ankle sprain in Week 2 sidelined him until now.
McCarthy appears headed back into the starting lineup for Minnesota’s Week 9 road contest against the Detroit Lions, and the Vikings may need to make do with Brosmer and Wolford as the backup and emergency QBs, respectively, for one game. But it would be surprising if Minnesota doesn’t at least thoroughly explore the trade market for an opportunity to add a veteran signal-caller with real starting experience behind the injury-prone McCarthy.
Kirk Cousins could be an option, but the Atlanta Falcons may have no choice but to keep him now with Michael Penix Jr. questionable and battling a knee injury that cost him a start against the Miami Dolphins last week. Russell Wilson of the New York Giants also represents a play Minnesota could make, though there hasn’t been much buzz on that front with just five days remaining before the NFL trade deadline.
However, Connor Orr of SI brought up an interesting possibility on Thursday, October 30, naming New York Jets starter and former Chicago Bears first-round pick Justin Fields as a potential trade target for the Vikings in the days to come.
Vikings Let 2 Starting QBs Leave Organization Over Offseason, Passed on Signing a Third
GettyNew York Jets quarterback Justin Fields.
In his proposal, Orr noted all of the veteran QBs that Minnesota let slip from its grasp over the offseason, including three current starters for teams with winning records.
“Fields is the perfect high-upside quarterback for [Vikings head coach Kevin] O’Connell to mix into the fold should J.J. McCarthy struggle to play with his injured ankle. The move is an attempt to restock the cupboard in Minnesota after both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones left for high-end starting jobs elsewhere,” Orr argued. “O’Connell learned a valuable lesson about hubris and the limitations of coaching this offseason by also eschewing Aaron Rodgers after McCarthy’s promising spring. Fields, who is not valued by Jets ownership, would likely welcome the change with open arms.”
Jets owner Woody Johnson publicly derided Fields last week after signing the 26-year-old to a two-year deal worth $40 million in the offseason.
Justin Fields’ Traditional Statistics Offer Hope of Development Under Coaching of Kevin O’Connell
GettyQuarterback Justin Fields of the New York Jets.
Fields ultimately got the start (and the first win of the season) for the Jets in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a knee injury to Tyrod Taylor, though it doesn’t appear that a long-term relationship is in the cards for Fields and the organization.
The Jets are on their bye week, and Taylor is likely to be healthy enough to play when they return to the field against the Cleveland Browns on November 9. As such, Fields could be available in the five days remaining before the league’s trade deadline.
Fields has completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,089 yards, five TDs and zero INTs this season. He’s also rushed the football for 288 yards and three scores at a clip of 5.4 yards per attempt.
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