Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell Sends Strong Message on Max Brosmer After Final Preseason Game

The Minnesota Vikings appear poised to hand their backup-quarterback position to undrafted free agent Max Brosmer.

Coach Kevin O’Connell once again spoke highly of Brosmer after he went 15 for 23 with 161 yards and one touchdown in the Vikings’ 23-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans in their final preseason game.

Brosmer started Friday night in Nashville and played well. Along with NFL journeymen Sam Howell and Brett Rypien, Brosmer is competing for Minnesota’s backup-QB spot behind 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.

Howell did not play the exhibition finale, and Rypien was 7 for 14 for 62 yards and one interception.

The Vikings, like every NFL team, must have their roster down to 53 players by Aug. 26.

What Did Kevin O’Connell Say About Max Brosmer?

Brosmer may be flying under the radar nationally, since he is competing with two veteran albeit career backups. But O’Connell has spent most of the preseason lauding the rookie QB who played his lone FBS season at Minnesota in 2024 — after transferring from FCS New Hampshire.

O’Connell did so once again Friday.

“Max once again showed some of the things he’s shown us throughout camp,” O’Connell said. “Good decision maker, made some plays, buying a little time with his legs, converting some third downs via some tight completions.”

O’Connell gave Brosmer the start so he could go through the routine as if he were playing the whole game. He played the first three quarters before ceding the signal-calling duties to Rypien for the fourth.

“I think it was [about] let[ting] him go through the process pregame and going through the call sheet with [offensive coordinator] Wes [Phillips] and [quarterbacks coach] Josh [McCown] and going through it as if he was going to play the whole game.”

Who Is The Vikings Backup Quarterback?

Rumors have been swirling about Minnesota trading for a backup quarterback — Kirk Cousins’ name continues to surface as an option to reunite with O’Connell.

But The Athletic beat writer Alec Lewis predicted the Vikings’ final 53-man roster and had McCarthy and Brosmer as the team’s lone quarterbacks, in spite of the team’s Super Bowl expectations.

“Neither McCarthy nor Brosmer has played a meaningful NFL game,” Lewis wrote. “Would head coach Kevin O’Connell really be willing to enter the 2025 season without a more proven option?”

McCarthy is coming off a torn meniscus that cost him his entire rookie season and theoretically is one hit — or non-contact injury — away from ceding the reins to Brosmer. But according to Lewis, it isn’t as if Howell or Rypien have been better.

“Rypien had an up-and-down performance Friday night,” Lewis wrote. “He and Howell were both inconsistent throughout training camp and the preseason. Minnesota could choose to keep either player.”

So the more likely outcome is the Vikings will keep a close eye on other teams’ cuts, and potentially work the phones this week for a potential quarterback trade. But Lewis also spelled out the risk in that.

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