EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota has added a veteran quarterback — with roots as a Vikings fan — to the roster.
The Vikings have agreed to terms with Carson Wentz, the team announced Sunday, a day after the 32-year-old participated in a workout in Minnesota.
Wentz most recently spent the 2024 season with the Chiefs, where he backed up Patrick Mahomes. He appeared in three games and started Kansas City’s regular-season finale, during which he completed 10 of 17 passes for 98 yards.
Minnesota’s addition of Wentz overlaps with trading veteran QB Sam Howell to Philadelphia.
The Vikings are sending the QB they acquired during the 2025 NFL Draft and a sixth-round pick in 2026 to in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2026 and a seventh-round selection in 2027.
Wentz joins a quarterbacks room with starter J.J. McCarthy, as well as rookie and former Golden Gopher Max Brosmer and veteran backup Brett Rypien.
McCarthy is heading for his first season as Minnesota’s starter after missing his rookie season because of a torn meniscus. Brosmer impressed coaches, teammates and fans alike during training camp and in the Vikings trio of preseason games. Rypien joined Minnesota just before the 2024 season and led the Vikings scout team.
All teams are required to reduce their rosters to 53 players by 3 p.m. (CT) Tuesday, Aug. 26.
Originally the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2016 by Philadelphia, Wentz spent his first five NFL seasons with the Eagles. He started all 68 regular-season games he played there, completing 1,562 of 2,492 passes (62.7%) for 16,811 yards with 113 touchdowns and 50 interceptions for a passer rating of 89.2.
The Eagles traded Wentz to the Colts in March 2021, and he went on to start all 17 games for Indianapolis that season, passing for 3,563 passing yards and 27 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.
Wentz was traded again when Indy sent him to Washington during the 2022 offseason. In his debut for the Commanders, he threw for 313 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions in a 28–22 victory over the Jaguars — ironically, the team he lost to in the Colts Week 18 finale.
Wentz landed on Injured Reserve after fracturing a finger on his throwing hand in a Thursday Night Football win. Taylor Heinicke became the Commanders starter during that time, and Wentz did not regain his position after being activated Dec. 12. He was released following the season.
In 2023, Wentz signed with the Rams midseason to serve as Matthew Stafford’s backup.
Wentz was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, but his family moved to North Dakota when he was 3, and he grew up a Vikings fan. He played college football at North Dakota State, where he bided his time before being named the Bison’s full-time starter as a junior in 2014. He went on to help lead NDSU to its fourth and fifth straight FCS Championship.
Wentz set NDSU’s single-season records for passing attempts (358), completions (228), and passing yards (3,111) in 2014. Cam Miller in 2024 topped the completions (258) and passing yards (3,251) marks.
Randy Antes
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