The Minnesota Vikings have a new backup quarterback.
They traded Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles and got Carson Wentz.
According to team insider Alec Lewis, the Vikings circled on Wentz because of his familiarity with QB coach Josh McCown, not to mention the fact that he was already familiar with Kevin O’Connell’s offensive system from his days with the Los Angeles Rams.
Carson Wentz’s familiarity with O’Connell’s system from his time with the #Rams, along with his connection to Josh McCown, played a major role in the #Vikings choosing him to be their veteran QB in the room, per @alec_lewis. pic.twitter.com/2YRqyRGBJ9
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 24, 2025
Howell may not have been a good fit for the offense.
They acquired him from the Seattle Seahawks during the NFL Draft.
Now, they have a proven veteran who, despite some major struggles along the way, is the type of high-end backup who can win a game or two if needed.
Of course, this will continue to be J.J. McCarthy’s team until proven otherwise, but it never hurts to have an experienced backup at quarterback.
That’s especially true when you factor in that McCarthy missed his rookie season with a major injury, so he’s a bit of a question mark and might also have some durability concerns.
The team is high on their young quarterback, yet injuries are a part of the game, or he may not be as ready as they think he is.
Wentz was projected to be a superstar, and he looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the game early in his career.
Then, injuries and reckless decision-making derailed his once-promising career.
Still, we’ve already seen what O’Connell has done with struggling quarterbacks like Sam Darnold, so perhaps Wentz can be his next project.
NEXT: Vikings Are Reportedly Intrigued By Undrafted Rookie QB