The Minnesota Vikings just dropped their 53-man roster after a truly dismal preseason, and get this: they’re rolling with *four* quarterbacks. Yeah, you read that right. After a brutal preseason that saw them score just one offensive touchdown, Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz, J.J. McCarthy, and Max Brosmer all made the cut. Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano from “Two Old Bloggers” broke it down, calling the preseason finale, a 34-6 loss to Denver, “another very miserable viewing experience for Vikings fans.” Seriously, one offensive TD all preseason? That’s rough.
The Quarterback Conundrum Is Real
Keeping four quarterbacks is a wild move in the NFL, and Darren called it “a surprising roster decision.” Dave agreed, pointing out that all four QBs “all have injury histories,” which apparently justified this unusual approach. It’s a head-scratcher, especially considering Brosmer’s spot could’ve gone to a special teams guy. McCarthy’s ankle sore? He sat out that Denver loss, missing his “one last chance before the season started to give me some confidence in him as the backup quarterback,” as Darren put it. That’s a huge missed opportunity to show what he’s got. Despite that, Darren still wants McCarthy on the team, saying he “at times, he showed ability to move the team and have the offense hopping.” So, they’ve got a lot of bodies, but a whole lot of questions too.
Roster Shakes and Defensive Line Questions Aplenty
Beyond the QB room, there are other big changes. They released veteran punter Johnny Hekker for rookie Brett Thorson, who’s got a bigger leg and costs less. Darren noted it wasn’t a case where Hekker “clearly outplayed him,” so that’s a cost-saving move. The real shocker out of camp? Undrafted safety Jacob Thomas from James Madison. Dave said Brian Flores was “giving him flowers in press conferences,” and Darren added that Thomas was actually “telling other players, veteran players like Jay Ward, where to be on the field.” A UDFA rookie showing up vets like that? That’s straight-up incredible. On the defensive line, they’re going young. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave are gone, so Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins are stepping into starting roles, backed by rookies Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. Darren gave a bit of a backhanded compliment there, saying the “bar that those two departed guys set isn’t that high.” Ouch. And for the running game? New OL coach Keith Carter and run game coordinator Frank Smith are bringing a “physical philosophy,” but Darren’s cautious. “We’ve heard this before… and the results always seem to be the same,” he said.
With the regular season kicking off, all eyes are on this Vikings squad. Can a revamped D-line step up? Will that new run game philosophy actually deliver? And the biggest question: how long can they juggle four signal-callers before the real season chaos hits? It’s gonna be a wild ride, and every single snap will show if these roster gambles pay off. Oh, and look out for those new alternate jerseys for the December 20 Lions game, at least they’ll look fresh.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Daily Norseman.
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