The Minnesota Vikings are in the market for backup quarterback for the third time since April, and the team needs to act with haste.
Quarterback Carson Wentz, who started five games (2-3) in the absence of second-year starter J.J. McCarthy, exacerbated an existing shoulder injury in last Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers and now requires season-ending surgery.
McCarthy is set to return against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 2 after what will be a seven-week absence since he suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Vikings’ home opener against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. So while that bit of timing is fortuitous for Minnesota, the only other signal-caller currently on the roster is undrafted 24-year-old rookie Max Brosmer.
Brosmer has appeared in three games and is 5-of-8 passing for 42 yards, but all of his action has come in garbage time. Meanwhile, McCarthy has played just eight quarters of professional football since Minnesota made him the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
All that equates to a strong need in Minneapolis for a veteran quarterback as a safety net for a franchise in desperate need of one after a disappointing 3-4 start. There are a couple of potential options via trade and free agency, though one of the most sensible is a reunion with current Chicago Bears signal-caller Case Keenum.
Case Keenum Expendable to Chicago Bears Ahead of NFL Trade Deadline
GettyChicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum.
Keenum played one season in Minnesota (2017), appearing in 15 games and starting 14 of those. He finished that year with a record of 11-3 and then authored the “Minnesota Miracle” playoff victory, defeating the New Orleans Saints in the Wildcard Round that postseason.
That campaign was easily the best of Keenum’s career, as he threw for 3,547 yards, 22 TDs and seven INTs. Keenum parted ways the Vikings during the following offseason, signing a two-year deal worth $36 million to join the Denver Broncos in what proved the biggest payday of his professional tenure. All told, Keenum has earned a little north of $57 million across his time in the league.
Now 37 years old, Keenum joined the Bears this offseason and competed with former undrafted signal-caller Tyson Bagent for the QB2 job behind Caleb Williams. Bagent ended up winning that role, relegating Keenum to Chicago’s third-string/emergency QB.
Vikings Could Sign Desmond Ridder, Trade for Kenny Pickett in Effort to Replace Carson Wentz
GettyFree-agent quarterback Desmond Ridder.
Given his age, current status with the Bears and the fact that he hasn’t taken a snap since he was with the Houston Texans back in 2023, Keenum shouldn’t cost Minnesota more than a late Day-3 draft selection — or maybe just a late pick swap — to acquire.
Keenum has thrown for more than 15,000 yards, 79 TDs and 51 INTs in his career. He has appeared in 80 games and earned 66 starts (30-36).
Another potential option for the Vikings to replace Wentz is a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for Kenny Pickett, who is likely about to move to QB3 with the return of Aidan O’Connell from a broken wrist he suffered during the preseason.
Two free-agent quarterbacks Minnesota could consider are Desmond Ridder, who was the team’s QB3 for a couple of weeks earlier this season immediately following McCarthy’s ankle sprain, or Taylor Heinicke who most recently played for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.
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