The 3-4 Minnesota Vikings have found themselves in a proverbial quarterback limbo.
While head coach Kevin O’Connell is widely known as the Quarterback Whisperer for his ability to turn castaway veteran players into hot commodities, he and the team have struggled to assemble any sort of consistent play out of the position this season.
Vikings fans were hesitantly optimistic about having one of the league’s best coaches mentoring a young QB. They were excited to see what he could do with a hopeful cornerstone at the most important position in the league.
Since KOC took over, he always seemed to have the answers at QB. What would make this season any different?
Not only is it different, but KOC has seemed to be at a loss, looking for any semblance of an answer to get this team back on track. For someone who has always had an answer, where does he go to find his QB solution? So far, the Vikings are still searching.
Entering the 2025 season, KOC made it clear that J.J. McCarthy was going to be the starter.
While the Vikings traded for Sam Howell in the offseason, who they ended up dealing away before the season, there was no discussion of a QB competition. Minnesota drafted McCarthy 10th overall in 2024 to be their franchise quarterback. They always strove to give him the best opportunity to succeed.
Seven of McCarthy’s first eight quarters played were duds. He completed 23 of his 41 passes for 301 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions and a combined 21.5 QBR.
He suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter of Minnesota’s Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons. McCarthy finished the game, but hasn’t played a game since. While he’s still green and continuing to learn to play at game speed, so far, he hasn’t been the answer KOC was hoping he would be.
The same day the team parted ways with Howell, they traded for Carson Wentz. Even after the trade, KOC made it clear that McCarthy was his guy. Still, Wentz got an opportunity when McCarthy went down in Week 2.
Wentz did a serviceable job during the first three weeks. However, he’s struggled the last two games, completing 31 of his 69 passes for 457 yards with only one touchdown and three interceptions while taking seven sacks.
While he wasn’t the permanent answer at the position and is no longer an option after season-ending surgery, he was an answer while the team waits for McCarthy to return.
What’s Next?
The obvious question now becomes what’s next? How do the Vikings become competitive again?
KOC must find an answer. The usually energetic head coach has seemed downtrodden. What happens if McCarthy doesn’t play well or suffers another injury?
The obvious answer is to go and get yet another veteran backup QB. For example, Jameis Winston is currently with the New York Giants, a team that has turned to a rookie Jaxson Dart after benching former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson.
Winston is a 10-year veteran and has shown flashes of why he was a first-overall pick in 2015. He can help mentor young McCarthy and can also end up joining a list of other projects that, under the direction of KOC, have found success in the league.
Other potential options the Vikings could seek out are the likes of Kyle Trask, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, or Zach Wilson.
One other answer is to hand the reins to Max Brosmer, the only other QB on the current roster.
Brosmer has seen some playing time this season, appearing in three games, but mostly in garbage time. It could give the coaching staff a true look at what they truly have in the undrafted rookie out of Minnesota. While the team would still need a backup, Brosmer knows the playbook and has been a favorite of KOCs since well before draft night.
While the team is struggling to keep pace in an ultracompetitive NFC North division, it’s paramount for KOC to find the answers. If he can’t, this team and its fans are in for a long, exhausting season.
