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Kevin O’Connell Sends Clear Message on Carson Wentz’s Role
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- Kevin O’Connell Sends Clear Message on Carson Wentz’s Role
Jayne Kamin-Oncea
The Minnesota Vikings did not re-sign Carson Wentz a couple of weeks ago to be the starting quarterback in 2026, despite some bizarre theories suggesting so.
The message was simple: Wentz is depth, and the Vikings want no repeat of last year's thin setup.
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Instead, Wentz will serve as depth in the quarterback room , according to head coach Kevin O'Connell, and that's not very surprising.
Minnesota Loaded Up behind Murray and McCarthy
The record has been set straight.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) scrambles out of the pocket during first-quarter action against the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sep. 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. Wentz's mobility helped extend plays early, adding a veteran presence to Minnesota's offense during a competitive interconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-Imagn Images
O'Connell on Wentz: He's Depth
O'Connell spoke at the NFL's league meetings on Monday and was asked about the Wentz signing.
He replied , "I just think it's about depth. It's about the fact that, without too much of a rearview-mirror-looking backward, you see where the final standings were; where we were at 9-8 and ultimately maybe the one or two or three plays or sequences of games where you find your way into the dance."
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"That's really all you ever want at the beginning of every year is to punch your ticket to compete in that one game to continue moving on. We've played three guys in one year. We've played four in another."
When Wentz signed with the Vikings earlier this month, some were overly eager to announce the end of the road in Minnesota for J.J. McCarthy . The theory turned out to be false.
O'Connell continued, "We just feel like having the ability to get quality quarterback play throughout the circumstances we do not control throughout the season gives our team pretty historic data that says if we get quarterback play to a certain line, we win a lot of football games."
"So, we wanted to ensure we are able to do that, but also make it a very, very competitive room, and that's regardless of who's taking reps with what group. We want the quarterback position to elevate our team, and with the talent we have around that position, we feel pretty good about it also working vice versa, the other way around."
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Wentz is the almighty insurance piece behind Kyler Murray and McCarthy; it's pretty straightforward.
One Loud and Wrong Theory
Wentz re-signed in Minnesota on March 19th, and soon after, beloved former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber tweeted , "I believe there will be a true QB competition. So, as of right now, I would guess the depth chart would be: Wentz, Murray, McCarthy. May the best man win."
That tweet alone pretty much started some social media carnage, and most onlookers wondered how Leber arrived at his conclusion. Wentz, a journeyman veteran, coming off a torn labrum, would instantly leapfrog a quarterback depth chart containing Murray and McCarthy ?
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Fans did not understand the rationale, and since then, McCarthy trade theories have run rampant. The O'Connell clarification brings everything back to earth. Wentz is QB3-style depth.
Learning a Depth Lesson from Last Year
A year ago, the Vikings' quarterback roster consisted of McCarthy and Brett Rypien , leaving the unproven starter without a viable experienced backup.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell speaks with reporters about quarterback plans during a media session on Oct. 21, 2025, confirming Carson Wentz as the starter for Thursday Night Football. O'Connell emphasized stability while noting J.J. McCarthy's continued development behind the veteran entering a key midseason matchup. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
Following the draft, former boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded for Sam Howell , a young quarterback with starting experience from Washington. However, Howell's struggles throughout training camp and the preseason led to a trade with Philadelphia before the season.
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Wentz arrived late in the summer as a stopgap and ultimately started five games in 2025. These events evidently prompted Minnesota to re-evaluate its approach to quarterback depth, and this year's strategy appears more deliberate. With Wentz now as the presumed third-string quarterback, the roster reflects lessons learned from last year's insufficient depth.
In short, the Vikings felt burned by skinny quarterback depth in 2023 and 2025; through his actions, O'Connell has vowed to prevent that in 2026.
The Deepest QB Room in the NFL?
Ask yourself? Is there any NFL team as deep as the Vikings right now at quarterback? It's Murray, McCarthy, Wentz, and Max Brosmer in the Twin Cities.
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The Cleveland Browns have Deshaun Watson , Shedeur Sanders , and Dillon Gabriel . Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco — the Joes — run the show in Cincinnati. The Seattle Seahawks employ Sam Darnold , Drew Lock , and Jalen Milroe . How about the San Francisco 49ers ? Brock Purdy and Mac Jones . The Atlanta Falcons ? Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa , and Trevor Siemian . Maybe the Chicago Bears with Caleb Williams , Tyson Bagent , and Case Keenum .
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up on the field prior to a playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Jan. 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. Murray's pregame routine set the stage for a high-stakes NFC Wild Card showdown under the national spotlight. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-Imagn Images
The moral of the story? With some obvious debates, the Vikings went from zero quarterback depth behind McCarthy in the spring of 2025 to a Top 5 situation per quarterback depth in the spring of 2026.
The Wentz re-signing made sure of it.
It's also worth noting that the Vikings' preseason games will feel more electric, with McCarthy seeing substantially more playing time than in 2024 and 2025.
