The Minnesota Vikings need to add a better backup quarterback behind J.J. McCarthy and the Las Vegas Raiders might have two options for them.
The Vikings lost Carson Wentz for the rest of the 2025 season because of a shoulder injury and that leaves the team with rookie Max Brosmer and recently-signed veteran John Wolford as the only backup options on the roster.
It goes without saying neither one figures to keep the Vikings afloat if McCarthy gets hurt again or struggles and gets benched. Wolford is a practice squad-level player, at best, and Brosmer is a total wild card as a first-year player.
Here’s where the Raiders come in.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that quarterback Aidan O’Connell will have his 21-day practice window opened, which means he’s on the cusp of returning from injured reserve, where he landed because of an August wrist injury.
“The Raiders are opening the practice window for QB Aidan O’Connell, sources say, adding another element to the Las Vegas QB room. O’Connell fractured his wrist in late August and landed on IR, prompting the trade for QB Kenny Pickett. Now, he’s back sooner rather than later,” Rapoport reported.
Of course, the Raiders have Geno Smith as their starter and while things aren’t going well at all, he figures to remain in his starting spot the rest of the season.
Even if that doesn’t happen, the Raiders have one more backup quarterback than they need with O’Connell set to return and Kenny Pickett also on the roster.
Granted, neither one is what we’d consider a sure thing, but both quarterbacks have much more experience than Brosmer and Woolford and are, simply put, better players.
Neither Pickett nor O’Connell should cost much, either. The former might fetch a mid-Day 3 pick, at best, and the latter will likely cost a seventh-round pick.
Along with O’Connell and Pickett, the Vikings should also be exploring trades for Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, all of whom are better options than the guys they have now.
But Cousins is unlikely to be the answer thanks to his contract and clear decline. Wilson and Winston are both on friendlier deals and are probably more realistic options for Minnesota.
