Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell still “likes” all three of his backup quarterbacks, but whether he has one worthy of holding the QB2 title remains very much an open question.
Sam Howell, the presumed backup signal-caller heading into training camp, had about as bad of a day as any QB could in the team’s second preseason contest of the summer against the New England Patriots on Saturday, August 16. Howell finished the day 1-of-5 through the air for 13 passing yards and an interception, accumulating a quarterback rating of exactly 0.0.
Meanwhile, undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer played the entire second half, and while he went 15-of-27 for 156 yards through the air, he also tossed an interception and took four sacks. Brett Rypien, currently the team’s QB3, played the second quarter and was fine (7-of-11 for 83 yards), but has less hype around his backup quarterback candidacy than any of the three potential options.
Media members asked head coach Kevin O’Connell about the QB2 competition on Saturday, and he essentially said the spot remains open.
I just view it right now as we’ve gotta learn about these guys, we’ve gotta try to see who’s able to go in there and function and execute the offense. I’m well aware sometimes the circumstances aren’t perfect … so you take that into account, but you’re looking for just the traits out of those three guys.
There’s a reason why we’re playing all three of them. As far as like what that means in the overall competition, I would just say it’s still open and we’re trying to figure out what that room is gonna like for the season. But I do like all the players, a lot.
Vikings Have Limited Success, Experience in QB Room as Season Nears
GettyQuarterback Sam Howell of the Minnesota Vikings hands the ball off to running back Ty Chandler during an NFL preseason game.
Depending on how Minnesota’s final preseason game goes against the Tennessee Titans next week, the Vikings still read as top candidates to trade for a quarterback and add some more insurance and security behind starter J.J. McCarthy, who won’t take his first regular-season snap in the NFL until Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.
Nothing O’Connell said Saturday materially changes what appears to be a frightening reality in Minnesota: that the Vikings have a Super Bowl-caliber roster with huge question marks and limited experience at the QB position. And as limited as that experience is, the success Howell and Rypien have had is even less.
Hence, why O’Connell spoke as glowingly as he did of Brosmer Saturday.
“The things … that he’s done and shows consistently is why he’s getting the reps that he is,” O’Connell said. “But I thought Brett Rypien did some good things, and obviously Sam had some tough circumstances.”
Handful of Viable QBs Should Emerge as Backup Options for Vikings Over Next 2 Weeks
GettyQuarterback Tyson Bagent of the Chicago Bears.
Teams have taken undrafted rookies into the season as their backups before, but it doesn’t happen often, and successes in those cases are even more rare.
The last time it worked out overtly well involved the Bears and Tyson Bagent, who is now entering his third season and competing with Case Keenum for the backup job behind Caleb Williams. Whoever loses that fight could be a candidate to head to Minnesota as another potential QB2 behind McCarthy.
Kirk Cousins also remains potentially available as the No. 2 signal-caller for the Atlanta Falcons, while the Cleveland Browns are likely to part ways with either Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett come the end of the month.
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