Vikings Add a New Arm to Bullpen with Latest Signing
Once the team’s official social media puts the news onto the internet, the contract has been signed. The ink may not yet be dry, but things have cleared the finish line.
Seemingly in response to the latest J.J. McCarthy injury, the Vikings added Desmond Ridder. He was employed in Minnesota earlier in the year, earning a paycheck to function as an injury fill-in while McCarthy recovered from an ankle sprain. Ridder is back, functioning as quarterback depth yet again.
Vikings Add Desmond Ridder Yet Again
The post was simple and declarative: “The #Vikings have signed QB Desmond Ridder to the practice squad.”
In theory, Mr. Ridder could be the main backup on Sunday. There’s some preexisting knowledge of the scheme since he has spent part of 2025 with the Vikings. Accordingly, the option exists to bump up Ridder, using him as the main backup to Max Brosmer rather than John Wolford.
The safe money, though, appears to be a Sunday tandem of Brosmer alongside Wolford. Quite possibly, Ridder will be active in some capacity, but that remains to be seen.
Desmond Ridder offers the Vikings a 26-year-old quarterback. He stands at 6’4″ and weighs 215 pounds, otherwise known as having near perfect size for an NFL quarterback. Originally, Ridder got into the NFL in 2022 as the No. 74 selection, which arrives in the 3rd.
His career has involved playing in twenty-five games. His win/loss tally shows eight victories versus ten losses. He has completed 63.6% of his passes — a healthy number that feels like a soothing balm for an adversity-aching Vikings team.
Across his career, Ridder has piled up 4,002 passing yards alongside 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Again, not elite. But, critically, statistics that are considerably healthier than what’s currently out there for the Vikings.
Going into the draft, Ridder ran an impressive 4.52 forty. He has run for 5 touchdowns and 24 first downs within his career. No one will mistake him for Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, but he’s probably better than Kirk Cousins or Tom Brady when it comes to foot speed.
Long term, Desmond Ridder looks like an NFL backup. Whether that opportunity arrives in Minnesota remains to be seen. The promising development for the player himself is that Minnesota saw enough in him to hand over another contract.
Clearly, he did something well within his first chance.
On Sunday, November 30th, the Vikings will play against the Seahawks at Lumen Field. Winning the game will mean climbing to 5-7 instead of dropping to 4-8 with a loss.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CT.
