BB.QB CHAOS IN MINNESOTA: The Vikings’ Throne Room Stands Empty as the Team Enters Full-Blown Quarterback Mystery Mode

The Minnesota Vikings are back in Eagan, fresh off a 1-1 European road trip, hoping to recharge during their bye week. But as the purple faithful catch their breath, a storm is brewing in the quarterback room—one that could define their week 7 showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 19, 2025. With injuries piling up and uncertainty swirling, the Vikings are grappling with a full-blown quarterback crisis. Who will take the field? Nobody, not even head coach Kevin O’Connell, seems to know.

A Banged-Up Quarterback Room

The Vikings’ quarterback situation is a mess, plain and simple. Their prized rookie, No. 10 overall pick JJ McCarthy, has been sidelined since week three with a high ankle sprain. On Monday, O’Connell offered a glimmer of hope, noting that McCarthy has started working out and throwing again—a first step in what the team hopes will be a rapid recovery. The goal? Get the young signal-caller back on the field by week 7. But with less than two weeks to go, it’s a race against time to get McCarthy game-ready.

Then there’s Carson Wentz, the 32-year-old veteran who’s supposed to be the steady hand guiding the ship. Unfortunately, Wentz is dealing with not one but two shoulder injuries. The first, a previously undisclosed issue in his right shoulder, came from a bruising encounter with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin. That injury, which didn’t make the week 5 injury report, still limited Wentz in practice and kept him from joining teammates for a round of golf at the team’s English countryside hotel. As teammate Justin Jefferson put it, Wentz was “a soldier,” but even soldiers have their limits.

If that wasn’t enough, Wentz took another hit in week 5 against the Cleveland Browns, this time to his left shoulder. During Monday’s press conference, O’Connell confirmed that Wentz is “pretty sore” and still undergoing evaluation. The Vikings are monitoring him closely, but with both shoulders compromised, his availability for week 7 is anyone’s guess.

The Unlikely Hero: Max Brosmer

If neither McCarthy nor Wentz can suit up, the Vikings could turn to an unexpected name: Max Brosmer, a 2025 undrafted free agent and former Minnesota Gophers standout. Just a few months ago, no one would’ve predicted Brosmer would be in the conversation for QB1. Yet, after a standout training camp and preseason, he’s the last man standing in a decimated quarterback room.

Brosmer taking the field against the Eagles would be a storybook moment for Minnesota fans. A local kid, leading the Vikings in a high-stakes game at U.S. Bank Stadium? It’s the kind of narrative that could set social media ablaze and add yet another twist to the Vikings’ already wild 2025 season.

A Game of Guesswork

Local insider Darren Wolfson, speaking on SKOR North’s Purple Daily podcast on Thursday, October 9, summed up the situation perfectly: the Vikings have no idea who will start at quarterback in 10 days. McCarthy is the preferred choice if he’s healthy, with Wentz as the fallback. But if neither is ready, Brosmer could get the nod—and potentially steal the show.

“I think at some point, whether it’s next Wednesday or Thursday or both, [McCarthy’s] going to be a full participant in practice,” Wolfson said. “But as of today, October 9, the Vikings do not know who their starting QB is 10 days from now, October 19, against the Eagles.”

What’s at Stake?

The uncertainty couldn’t come at a worse time. The Eagles, a perennial NFC contender, won’t go easy on whoever lines up under center. If McCarthy plays, the Vikings can afford to be cautious with their rookie, easing him back into action. If Wentz is healthy, his experience could stabilize the offense. But if Brosmer steps in, it’s a high-risk, high-reward gamble that could either ignite the fanbase or expose the Vikings’ depth issues.

For Kevin O’Connell and his staff, this quarterback chaos is just the latest chapter in a rollercoaster season. The bye week was supposed to bring clarity and rest, but instead, it’s left the Vikings with more questions than answers. Will McCarthy’s ankle hold up? Can Wentz shrug off his double-shoulder woes? Or will Brosmer, the unheralded rookie, seize his moment?