The Minnesota Vikings have a potentially huge QB decision looming this offseason: Do they re-sign quarterback Carson Wentz as their veteran backup, or hunt for a fresh face to add behind starter J.J. McCarthy?
Some analysts and insiders believe Wentz, despite having mid-season shoulder surgery and a rather uneven five-game stint in place of McCarthy, might be the best option for the Vikings’ QB2 — particularly considering how silent the Vikes were at the trade deadline this year.
“Minnesota didn’t add a veteran backup at the trade deadline so they could look to re-sign Carson Wentz,” CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones wrote on November 8.
Re-signing Wentz in 2026 would be the practical decision. He knows the offense, has built rapport with Minnesota’s key offensive playmakers and he has shown that he can step in at a moment’s notice. Minnesota could do worse — but they could probably do better, too. Let’s discuss.
Should the Minnesota Vikings Re-Sign Carson Wentz as QB2 in 2026?
GettyWill the Minnesota Vikings re-sign QB Carson Wentz in 2026?
Wentz threw for 1,216 yards in his five starts for Minnesota this season, completing 65.1% of his passes. He trhew six touchdowns, five interceptions and netted an 85.8 passer rating. His total QBR of 40.9 placed him near the bottom of the league, but those numbers don’t tell the full story. Signed late in August, Wentz was thrust into the lineup after McCarthy’s high-ankle sprain.
He went 2–3 as a starter, including a comeback win in London over the Browns. He also kept the Vikings’ offense on schedule, showing an understanding of Kevin O’Connell’s system. It’s fair to say that he gave Minnesota a chance to compete each week.
Wentz’s season ended when he was placed on injured reserve in late October with a left shoulder injury that required surgery. It wasn’t on his throwing arm, but the rehab will still take time and could extend into the spring. At 32 years old and with a well-documented injury history, so durability will remain a concern.
Still, if you’re the Vikings, Wentz played on a one-year, $1.422 million contract this year, with only $167,500 guaranteed — essentially a veteran-minimum deal. Replicating that structure in 2026, perhaps with low incentives for playing time or team wins, would give Minnesota a reliable insurance policy without eating too much of the salary cap.
Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell Has Had High Praise for Wentz
“When you go back … over the timeline, when he’s been given really good opportunity, normally he’s played really good football,” O’Connell said about Wentz in September, via The Athletic. “And I’ve always been a fan of his, you know. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s smart, he commands.”
After the veteran QB’s injury, O’Connell praised his professionalism and his ability to stabilize the offense, also noting that McCarthy benefited from observing Wentz around to learn from.
The Vikings coach didn’t go as far as to commit to Wentz publicly, but he sure seemed to appreciate the value and overall effort he got from the veteran signal-caller.
Keeping Wentz around does make sense. It’d be a low-risk move for Minnesota, and there’s something to be said for familiarity in the NFL. That said, the Vikings will have to weight the risks, as well, which with Wentz, are primarily physical. He’s getting older, and his durability is something the team will have to consider, as well. It’ll be interesting to see what Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and company do.
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