The final preseason game is often little more than a showing of practice squad players looking to make their final impact prior to roster cut down day. J.J. McCarthy was never going to play for the Minnesota Vikings tonight, and Kevin O’Connell was coaching a cast of backups.
Still, the game against the Tennessee Titans still held weight for a couple of different players. There is a legitimate punting competition going on, and anyone with a pulse could certainly be in line for a wide receiver role.
Sam Howell has looked pulseless as the assumed backup quarterback. We have been told that the Vikings love Brett Rypien. They didn’t draft Max Brosmer, but he signed as an undrafted free agent and has quickly stolen the show.
Max Brosmer stakes claim for Minnesota Vikings backup job
Kevin O’Connell started Max Brosmer on Friday night against the Titans. Sam Howell did not play. Hopefully the head coach has seen enough from Howell to know he’s not the answer. With Brosmer and Brett Rypien going back and forth, it was the former Gophers leader that stole the show.
This has been a perfect final statement from Max Brosmer. Beautiful deep throw on 4th down and should have been caught. I had him on the 53-man roster even before tonight, but now it’s pretty obvious.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 23, 2025
Pre-snap, Max Brosmer checked into max pro. With time. Then hit Dontae Fleming in the hands. Undrafted rookie. Hilarious. https://t.co/bNBjGWlynO
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) August 23, 2025
Man, I love Max Brosmer. Talk about seizing an opportunity. #skol
— ᵇ (@bheintzskol) August 23, 2025
Max Brosmer QB1?
— Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) August 23, 2025
If words aren’t enough for you, then the tale of the tape will be. Brosmer was throwing darts all over the field while showing complete control of the offense. He started against the Tennessee first-team defense, and when he was on the field the team clicked.
Welcome to the 53 man roster Max Brosmer. pic.twitter.com/yZZe2h7bPc
— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) August 23, 2025
Mad. Max. Brosmer. pic.twitter.com/s7JoSDFT73
— Jason Harmon (@_jason_777) August 23, 2025
At this point it would be both idiotic and a complete shock if Brosmer doesn’t make the 53-man roster for the Vikings. The only question remaining is to what capacity he is ticketed for.
He finished his final preseason game going 15-for-23 with 161 yards and a touchdown. Brosmer also ran twice for a total of five yards.
How do Vikings handle backup quarterbacks?
There was never a world in which J.J. McCarthy wasn’t going to start for the Minnesota Vikings this season. He was a first round pick last year and would have challenged Sam Darnold for the starting role had he not suffered a season-ending injury.
Kevin O’Connell proved he can get the most out of his quarterbacks, and McCarthy is the next signal caller privileged to work with him. There still has to be a backup option in case of emergency, and typically teams roster just a single additional quarterback.
Max Brosmer gets the start at QB for the #Vikings tonight pic.twitter.com/h2AVxGdD0F
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 23, 2025
Brosmer won’t pass through waivers so a practice squad spot isn’t a possibility. That means Minnesota either must be comfortable with the undrafted free agent being the first line of defense for McCarthy, or they’ll roster three quarterbacks.
Related: NFL Insiders Pour Gas on MN Vikings + Adam Thielen Rumors
With roster cutdowns looming, we’ll soon have an answer. Brosmer has exceeded well-beyond even the greatest aspirations from the Vikings thus far. Now, how much do they really believe in him?
The @Titans defense takes it away! Julius Wood with the INT
Watch on CBS
Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/0B4z22if6O— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2025
Conveniently Rypien basically asked off the roster with a late-game pass for a pick as the final exhibition game came to a close.
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