Vikings Expected to Make ‘Bold’ QB Decision After Kevin O’Connell’s Comments

The Minnesota Vikings will pare their roster down from the 90-player limit allowed during the preseason to a 53-man set for the regular season. In that, their quarterback could be in for a shakeup, particularly with offseason trade acquisition Sam Howell.

Howell was a fifth-round draft pick by the Washington Commanders in the 2022 draft, and he is the most experienced QB in the Vikings’ room, logging 18 in his three NFL seasons.

Howell, who spent 2024 with the Seattle Seahawks, could end up a cut deadline casualty.

The Athletic’s Alec Lewis projected the Vikings to keep J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback and, in a “bold” move, undrafted rookie free agent Max Brosmer at QB2. Lewis called moving on from  Howell and veteran Brett Rypien the “toughest call.”

“Neither McCarthy nor Brosmer has played a meaningful NFL game,” Lewis wrote on August 23. “Would head coach Kevin O’Connell really be willing to enter the 2025 season without a more proven option? Rypien had an up-and-down performance Friday night. He and Howell were both inconsistent throughout training camp and the preseason. Minnesota could choose to keep either player.”

O’Connell said the Vikings wanted to let Brosmer and Rypien play in the finale. He also offered strong support for Howell amid speculation about his future.

“I feel good about where Sam’s at,” O’Connell told reporters on August 22. “He’s really, when you look at it, first time getting full-time reps in the system. I thought he’s had some real growth. He had a good week of practice, took a lot of reps in our kind of simulated scrimmage the other day. So, he’s done some really good things.”

Rypien is a former UDFA with a 2-2 record as a starter in the NFL.

He could be easier to sneak onto their practice squad than Howell, though the Vikings poached him that way in 2024.

Vikings Face Potential Hurdle to Address QB Concerns Amid Sam Howell Prediction

Lewis noted that the Vikings could still explore outside options for their lingering concerns about their quarterbacks behind McCarthy if they cut Howell and Rypien.

That would present its own set of challenges.

“A more likely approach might be to peruse the waiver wire for another QB who is cut next week,” Lewis wrote before noting the caveat that “adding someone this late would be a challenge, though, considering the complexity of O’Connell’s offense.”

O’Connell made former first-round draft bust Sam Darnold into a Pro Bowler in 2024. It took all of the offseason program, training camp, and an injury to McCarthy to solidify the QB1 spot.

McCarthy, who spent last season learning the system, has also had an up-and-down summer.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert projected Howell would make the roster in an article published on August 22, leaving Rypien as the odd man out in the end. Seifert also speculated that the Vikings could look for outside help at QB despite his optimism for Howell.

Vikings Have More Pressing Issues at WR

Further complicating matters for Howell, Rypien, and the Vikings is the fact that Minnesota faces far more pressing questions about its wide receiver room.

Howell, at least, gives the Vikings an experienced alternative.

The Vikings’ top three wide receivers – Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jalen Nailor – have dealt with, will, or are dealing with something that keeps them off the field. Jefferson is expected to make his return for Week 1.

Addison is set to serve a three-game suspension, while Nailor’s status remains uncertain as he deals with a hand injury.

Cutting Howell would only further complicate matters for the Vikings in that regard.