Re-Signing Carson Wentz Was the Right Move for Minnesota
The Minnesota Vikings entered the 2026 offseason knowing they needed answers at quarterback. Instead of rolling with J.J. McCarthy as the proclaimed starter, Minnesota added veteran Kyler Murray on a tempting, cheap 1-year deal to create one of the NFL’s most intriguing quarterback competitions. Lost in much of the discussion, however, is a third quarterback who may play a critical role in determining the Vikings’ success this season: Carson Wentz.
As mandatory minicamp headlines have gone, the quarterback battle you hear about has largely been about the two-man race between Murray and McCarthy. The pair of quarterbacks have taken most of the first- and second-team snaps while Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer have received only a handful of opportunities. So that certainly looks like Carson Wentz will be the QB3 on this roster, right? Right now, it looks that way, but could it be more?
The Ideal Scenario for Minnesota and Wentz
If the Vikings had their choice, Wentz doesn’t enter the conversation because either Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy has run away with the job early into training camp, and the runner-up in the job is a good teammate in support of that individual leading into the season.
That isn’t a knock on the veteran quarterback. Carson has a lot of experience and, when healthy, has shown he can be successful in KOC’s offense. In fact, it is exactly why Minnesota re-signed him this offseason. The organization knows what it has in Wentz after he came in late 3 weeks before the 2025 regular season. Wentz is an experienced veteran who has started 103 NFL games, has 170 TDs in his career (159 passing), and has won several games in difficult situations during his decade-long NFL career.
Wentz’s value to this team in 2026 isn’t competing for the starting job, but more about being that stabilizing veteran presence in the quarterback room. He is that insurance policy in case this team either experiences more injuries at the position in 2026, with both Murray and McCarthy having injuries throughout their career.
Where Does Carson Wentz Fit In?
The more fascinating question is what happens with Murray or McCarthy after a QB is chosen to be the starter in training camp? What happens if the losing QB of the competition struggles to accept the result? We have seen reports of frustration surrounding the quarterback competition. Kyler Murray publicly acknowledged the challenges of splitting reps while learning a new offense, and the ongoing battle has become one of the biggest storylines of the Vikings’ offseason.
To this point, there is no evidence that either Murray or McCarthy has become a locker-room problem. In fact, Kevin O’Connell has praised professionalism within the quarterback room, and reports have credited Wentz as one of the veteran leaders helping keep things positive. But what about once a starter is named? Would the loser accept a backup role? This is where quarterback competitions can become complicated.
If the Vikings determine one quarterback clearly gives them the best chance to win, what becomes of the other? Would Minnesota consider a trade if the fit no longer made sense? Would either Murray or McCarthy request a trade if they are not named the starter? We won’t know how it plays out until August, during training camp, but if either quarterback becomes unhappy with his role, Wentz gives this team options. He has enough experience to serve as a QB2, allowing Minnesota to make a trade if they deem it necessary.
Could Carson Wentz See The Field In 2026?
The answer is absolutely yes.
Not because he is a threat to win the starting job, but because, as we have seen with injury to Kirk Cousins during the season when he was here, Teddy Bridgewater’s freak preseason injury, and both Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy having injuries in multiple seasons, anything can happen. The Vikings, and we as fans, have learned that lesson repeatedly over the past several years.
Not only do quarterback injuries happen, but performance slumps happen as well. Believe it or not, this team has an opportunity to be competitive. Wentz has already shown he can step into difficult situations during his tenure with the Vikings. The veteran started 5 games for Minnesota in 2025 with 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions before a season-ending shoulder injury ended his campaign. Yes, he actually did play decently before the team still continued to roll him out to start while battling multiple injuries. Carson Wentz could have gone elsewhere to be a backup or possibly with a path to start with a team in a worse QB situation, but returned to his childhood favorite team this offseason on a one-year deal. So both sides saw his return in 2026 as beneficial. No other team has a QB3 of his caliber. And there is a reason why the Vikings felt they needed to.
Bringing Wentz Back Was The Right Decision
Carson Wentz is unlikely to be the Vikings’ Week 1 starter, but in a league where very few teams make it through an entire season with just one quarterback, it would be surprising if Minnesota didn’t at least prepare for the possibility. He won’t get many first-team reps in training camp in August, and unless Murray or McCarthy demands a trade, he is likely the team’s third quarterback going into the 2026 season
But that doesn’t make him irrelevant. In many ways, Wentz may be one of the most important players on the roster. He provides leadership, stability, and a proven contingency plan if the Vikings’ quarterback competition doesn’t end cleanly or if injuries strike during the season. He can be helpful to both McCarthy and Murray on the sidelines and in the film room as well.
If Carson Wentz sees the field in 2026, something likely went very wrong. But re-signing him for 2026 was the right decision to ensure this team has the depth needed in a 17-game season. The good news for Minnesota is that if that moment arrives, and you have to hit a panic button, they have a veteran in Wentz who is capable of winning games in the NFL.
