J.J. McCarthy’s ankle is finally ready, but the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback depth chart still feels fragile. That’s where Max Brosmer comes in.
Minnesota Vikings Elevate Max Brosmer as QB Depth Is Tested Again
The undrafted rookie from New Hampshire has quietly spent the past two months learning head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system, running scout-team reps, and preparing for the kind of emergency that now sits one play away.
When quarterback Carson Wentz went down with a dislocated left shoulder that tore his labrum and fractured the socket, it ended his season and pushed Brosmer into the top backup role. McCarthy is expected to start Sunday in Detroit, but the Vikings have already used three quarterbacks this year. For a rookie still finding his place, the margin for error behind McCarthy feels razor-thin.
Brosmer has earned the trust of coaches since rookie minicamp, where his timing, accuracy, and calm presence stood out immediately. He carried that into training camp and onto the active roster, showing he can manage a huddle and operate within rhythm. Those traits fit O’Connell’s quick-read passing game and have made Brosmer a reliable understudy.
That trust nearly turned into action last Thursday. As Wentz battled through visible pain against the Chargers, Brosmer began warming up on the sideline.
“The confidence we have in Max is real,” O’Connell said afterward. “You also don’t want to send him out there and force a level of figure-it-out-ness that’s probably beyond a guy playing for the first time.”
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Now, with Wentz sidelined for the year, Brosmer’s workload is about to increase. He’ll take more first-team reps in practice as the Vikings prepare for Detroit and evaluate their depth behind McCarthy. Brosmer arrives with elite college production, having led the FCS in passing yards (3,464), passing yards per game (313.6), and total offense (325.0) while ranking second in passing touchdowns (29) during his final season at New Hampshire.
Minnesota needs something to change. Its offense ranks No. 26 in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.
Brosmer might not see the field Sunday, but his rise from undrafted rookie to trusted backup reinforces a larger truth about the Vikings’ season. Every quarterback on the roster has been tested. Brosmer’s turn could come next, and the team believes he’s ready for it.
