Ex-Vikings Passer Victim of a Packers QB Shuffle
Last year, the Vikings had to rely on backup quarterbacks far more often than they envisioned. Amid the J.J. McCarthy injury saga, QB2 Carson Wentz started five games and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer two. That rotation resulted in one of the worst passing attacks in the NFL.
In the shuffle, the Vikings acquired former Falcons starter Desmond Ridder to provide some depth while McCarthy was sidelined. His first introduction to Skol Nation was two weeks into the season. McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain and Ridder was signed. He was then axed a couple of weeks later during Minnesota’s trip to Europe.
Later in the season, McCarthy and Wentz were both out this time, Ridder joined the practice squad. When McCarthy returned from concussion protocol, the former third-rounder was released.
Ahead of the final game of the season, a meaningless clash between the Vikings and the Packers, Ridder signed with Green Bay and has been with the team ever since. Well, at least until Green Bay showed him the door this week, making room for new QB2, Tyrod Taylor. Last year’s backup, Malik Willis, got a nice raise after signing with the Miami Dolphins in March. Kyle McCord and Kyron Drones complete the QB room.
The green rivals wrote on their website, “The Green Bay Packers have signed QB Tyrod Taylor and released QB Desmond Ridder. The transactions were announced Monday by General Manager Brian Gutekunst.”
Taylor is a true journeyman, a typical backup quarterback. He has appeared in 100 games throughout his career, suiting up for seven different franchises. Of his 62 starts, 43 came in a three-year stint with the Bills between 2015 and 2017.
Last year, he started four games on a horrific Jets offense. En route to a 1-3 record, he completed 59.7% of his passes for 779 yards, five scores and five picks. Taylor will turn 37 in August and his job is to keep the offense moving for a couple of games if starter Jordan Love can’t go. Love missed two games in back-to-back seasons.
Ridder’s career is now on life support, as he seemingly doesn’t have staying power, despite providing backup-level play for a while in the past.
During his college days, Ridder quarterbacked the University of Cincinnati. He started 48 games, throwing for 87 touchdowns and rushing for another 28. Ridder entered the draft in 2022 and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round. The Falcons relied on him as their starter 17 times in two seasons before moving on in favor of Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. He was then traded to Arizona and had stops in Las Vegas and Cincinnati before his NFC North travels over the last eight months.
In his NFL career, Ridder has played in 25 games (18 starts), accumulating 4,002 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Ridder possesses decent athleticism, as evidenced by his 293 rushing yards and five touchdowns as a ball carrier. He collected an 8-9 record in his 17 starts.
He’s 26 years old and hopes to receive an invite to someone’s training camp to show what he can do.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.