Carson Wentz played his heart out for the Minnesota Vikings, but the former second-overall pick will miss the rest of the season after playing through a painful shoulder injury. This leaves second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy alone atop the depth chart, with undrafted free agent Max Brosmer as the primary backup.
At 3-4, the Minnesota Vikings are at the bottom of the NFC North but still very much alive in the playoff race. However, if they want to make the postseason, they’ll need a quarterback playing at a reasonably high level. McCarthy might be able to get the job done, but the team should trade for a proven veteran like Russell Wilson to provide some insurance at the position.
Giants, Vikings Could Agree to Russell Wilson Trade After The Carson Wentz Injury
Despite taking him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s hard to say exactly what the Minnesota Vikings have in J.J. McCarthy. The Michigan product missed his entire rookie season with an injury, entered 2025 as the unquestioned starter, but quickly earned a spot on the bench after suffering another injury. He didn’t look particularly good during his limited time on the field, completing just 58.5% of his passes for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Additionally, some across the league question whether McCarthy’s injury was bad enough to sideline him this long, or if Minnesota quietly benched him.
Nobody should give up on a first-round pick after just two games, but Minnesota must have a Plan B if McCarthy continues to struggle or suffers another injury. Undrafted free agent Max Brosmer played well in the preseason and reportedly has impressed in practice, but there’s no way to replicate regular season action. Carson Wentz was a good backup for this team, but his shoulder injury ensures he won’t return in 2025.
With the trade deadline a week away, the Minnesota Vikings should call the Giants about Russell Wilson. Wilson isn’t the quarterback he used to be, but he’s probably the best backup in the league. The veteran made three starts for the Giants, completing 58.9% of his passes for 786 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions before ceding the starting job to rookie Jaxson Dart.
Nobody is saying Russell Wilson is an ideal starter at this stage in his career, but he provides some stability at the position. If nothing else, he should be capable of connecting with a superstar like Justin Jefferson. The only question is if the Giants would be willing to trade him.
Possible Terms
Fortunately, Russell Wilson’s contract makes him an easy trade target. The one-time Super Bowl champion bet on himself as a free agent, signing a one-year, $10.5 million contract with an $8 million signing bonus. This is chump change for a starting quarterback, and seeing as most of the money has already been paid, Wilson’s cap hit would be nonexistent with the Vikings.
Additionally, the Giants should be willing to take whatever they can get for Wilson’s services. Dart is firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback, and fellow veteran Jameis Winston is more than capable of being the primary backup. The Carson Wentz injury will hurt the Vikings, but a Russell Wilson trade could mitigate the loss and ensure Minnesota has at least one competent quarterback on the roster.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images
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