While starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy is out for the Minnesota Vikings, and with Carson Wentz stepping up, the team wanted to provide him with some competition.
On Tuesday, the team went out and signed a quarterback who has 21 NFL touchdowns to his name. Plus, he will provide Wentz with a little more urgency to stick in the QB1 spot for now.
Who Did The Vikings Sign At QB After J.J. McCarthy’s Injury?
Minnesota went out and signed Desmond Ridder to its 53-man roster, not to its practice squad. This means that Ridder will immediately be available for the Vikings’ next game this coming Sunday.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday that the Vikings picked up Ridder while McCarthy deals with an ankle injury.
The #Vikings are signing QB Desmond Ridder to the 53-man roster, with JJ McCarthy suffering an ankle injury, per me and @TomPelissero. pic.twitter.com/nCsmmbSNg3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 16, 2025
Meanwhile, fellow NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero said that the Vikings “gain flexibility to potentially have an experienced starter as QB2, rather than press undrafted rookie Max Brosmer into action if something happens to Carson Wentz.”
Ridder does have some starting quarterback experience in his NFL career, although it didn’t pan out too well. Ridder, who played his college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats, was a third-round draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 NFL Draft.
He played two seasons for the Falcons, including a season as the team’s starting quarterback in 2023. But in 13 starts, Ridder went 6-7 and eventually was pulled from the QB1 role. Ridder played two seasons with the Falcons before joining the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2024 season.
In three NFL seasons, Ridder is 374-for-588 passing for 4,002 yards and 16 touchdown passes, along with 14 interceptions. He also has five rushing TDs to give him 21 TDs for his NFL career.
Ridder was part of the Cincinnati Bengals’ training camp this season, but was let go in late August. Now, Ridder has a chance to play behind Wentz and maybe even see some game-time action should Wentz get hurt or is ineffective.
McCarthy was not placed on the injured reserve, so the Vikings are hopeful that the second-year quarterback will return soon. Minnesota is 1-1 heading into Week 3’s matchup against the Bengals, who are also without Joe Burrow.
In the Vikings’ 22-6 loss to the Falcons in Week 2, McCarthy threw for just 158 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Hopefully, Wentz will play better than the Michigan product did.
