Wentz won’t prevent Kyler Murray from starting for Vikings | Opinion
· Yahoo Sports
The Minnesota Vikings’ decision to bring back veteran quarterback Carson Wentz on a one-year deal might have raised some eyebrows when the news hit on Thursday, March 19.
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It shouldn’t.
That’s because Wentz’s return in no way implies that Kyler Murray is now in danger of losing out on the starting job.
When the Vikings agreed on a one-year deal with Murray on March 12 following his official release from the Cardinals, they did so with the intent of letting Murray compete with J.J. McCarthy for QB1 honors. Coach Kevin O’Connell has declined to name a starter or even discuss his plans for the position in any detail.
That’s important to note because, although Murray is strongly considered to be the favorite to win the starting job, the Vikings have not fully given up on McCarthy, their first-round pick in 2024. McCarthy, 23, still has a shot to beat out Murray, 28, for the No.1 role. Barring the unforeseen, he probably won’t do it.
Wentz, 33, is now the fourth quarterback on Minnesota’s roster, joining Max Brosmer. If anything, Wentz was brought back as plausible insurance in case McCarthy can’t nail down the primary backup role to Murray. And it’s a smart move considering McCarthy’s rough NFL beginning and his recent injury history.
At the very least, Wentz offers the Vikings a better No. 3 option than Brosmer, an undrafted rookie free agent last season. Wentz may have started five games for the Vikings in 2025, but he represents no real threat to Murray or Murray’s quest to land the starting role. If anything, Wentz is more of a threat to McCarthy.
"He knew we were going to be adding somebody to the room,” O'Connell said of McCarthy on the day the Vikings signed Murray. “He knew that that didn't change anything about his mindset and focus on improving and attacking this offseason the right way. And I'm really proud of him for that and excited to get back on the grass and in the meeting room with him when that time comes.”
Murray's seven seasons with the Cardinals began upon becoming the No.1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and twice was named to the Pro Bowl, but he went just 38-48-1 in Arizona with only one playoff appearance, an NFC wild card loss to the Rams.
Murray started the first five games of 2025 before suffering a foot injury that inevitably led to him sitting out the remainder of the season. The Vikings are paying $1.3 million of Murray’s $36.8 salary this season, and the Cardinals are on the hook for the rest as part of their decision to release him.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Carson Wentz joins Kyler Murray in Vikings QB room