The Minnesota Vikings made it official Thursday: Carson Wentz, the 33-year-old quarterback who grew up a Vikings fan in neighboring North Dakota, is returning to Minnesota on a one-year contract.
The signing follows last week’s agreement to bring in former Arizona Cardinals starter Kyler Murray on a similar deal. Together, both additions give head coach Kevin O’Connell the quarterback depth Minnesota was missing for most of the 2025 season, with injuries at the position contributing to a 9-8 finish.
Wentz started five games in place of McCarthy last season, performing relatively well in Kevin O’Connell’s offense before a dislocated shoulder knocked him off course, eventually forcing him out for the year.
Oct 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) drops back to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Oct 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) drops back to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Three Former Top-10 Draft Picks Now Share the Vikings’ Quarterback Room
The room now consists of Murray, selected No. 1 overall in 2019; McCarthy, the 10th pick in 2024; and Wentz, the No. 2 overall selection by Philadelphia in 2016. Undrafted free agent Max Brosmer, who starred at the University of Minnesota, rounds out the group.
As the Vikings’ official announcement confirmed, all three quarterbacks were selected in the top 10 of their respective classes, an unusual concentration of draft pedigree at a single position on one roster.
Wentz’s numbers from that stretch hold up well given the circumstances. Per the Vikings’ announcement, he completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 1,216 yards, throwing six touchdowns against five interceptions.
He was doing that through a dislocated left shoulder. The injury included a torn labrum and a fractured socket, first suffered during Minnesota’s Week 5 London game against the Cleveland Browns.
He played through it for another two games before being shut down. Wentz said after the game that it “quite possibly” was the most pain he had been in during a football game.
Veteran QB Carson Wentz is re-signing with the Vikings, sources tell The Insiders.
So Minnesota’s QB room now features three former top-10 picks: Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy and Wentz, who played well last season before a shoulder injury. pic.twitter.com/9Ed7b0QoAM
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 19, 2026
Wentz’s Return Solves a Depth Problem That Derailed Minnesota’s 2025 Season
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Oct 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) shakes hands with Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) after the game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Murray and McCarthy will compete for the starting spot this summer. O’Connell said he wanted to bring in a veteran signal-caller to push McCarthy this offseason, and retaining Wentz alongside Murray does exactly that.
The absence of reliable depth was Minnesota’s most damaging issue last year. With Wentz sidelined and McCarthy managing his own injury, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer was forced to start two games in situations no team would willingly design for an unproven player.
The New York Jets had been a realistic option for Wentz before Thursday’s news. SNY’s Connor Hughes reported New York was “squarely in the mix” for the quarterback following the team’s acquisition of veteran quarterback Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Instead, Wentz stays with a system he spent the last year learning. That familiarity with O’Connell’s scheme is a real benefit heading into a season where expectations in Minnesota are higher than they were twelve months ago.
Wentz’s career record stands at 49-49-1 as a starter with 159 touchdowns against 72 interceptions across 10 seasons, which tells you he can keep a team competitive when called upon. That is the insurance policy Minnesota just renewed.