It looks to be go time for rookie Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer.
The undrafted signal caller, 25, appears poised to start Sunday against former Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold in Seattle, as struggling starter J.J. McCarthy is currently in concussion protocol and therefore “not expected to play,” The Athletic reported Wednesday.
“We have a ton of confidence in Max,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said, according to the team’s official website. “All he’s done since he’s been here is show up every single day and respond and answer the bell, whether it’s stepping in for some reps when guys were dinged up previously this year with the first group or if you look at it from a standpoint of what his absorption of the offense was throughout his first day here all the way through training camp, playing in some of those games, playing against the Titans first-team unit in that preseason game, defensively, and moving the team and getting the ball out and seeing things at a veteran level type of eye progression.”
Undrafted rookie QB Max Brosmer looks poised to start for the Vikings in Week 13. Getty Images
An Iowa native, Brosmer began his collegiate career with the New Hampshire Wildcats in 2019, playing three out of five seasons in the Northeast.
The COVID-19 pandemic and a torn ACL factored into availability in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Brosmer transferred to Minnesota for the 2024 season and threw 17 touchdowns against five interceptions as the Golden Gophers’ quarterbacks.
He signed with the Vikings shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft in April and made the initial 53-man roster out of training camp after showing flashes in the preseason.
Although Brosmer has seen playing time in the regular season, Sunday would mark his first official start, something the QB “feels very much prepared if called upon,” according to O’Connell.
Starting Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is currently in concussion protocol. AP
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“He’s been a snap away here since Carson [Wentz] went on [Injured Reserve], and I know he feels very much prepared if called upon. And he’s going to go about the week as he’s been doing, which is important for a guy that is one snap away as a young player. How many reps can we steal pre-practice, post-practice? He does all the little things to try to get himself ready if he were to be called upon and that may be, indeed, this week,” O’Connell said.
Sunday’s clash in Seattle will pit the 4-7 Vikings against Darnold, who has continued to build off last year’s renaissance season under O’Connell with the 8-3 Seahawks.
The former first-round pick left for Seattle in free agency on a three-year, $100.5 million deal.
Max Brosmer has already seen playing time with the Vikings this season. Getty Images
Darnold, 28, started last year in place of McCarthy, the Vikings’ 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft who tore his meniscus in the preseason, and guided the team to a 14-3 campaign and playoff berth.
McCarthy, 22, was officially handed the keys to the offense this year with mixed results.
Days after leading the team to a wild fourth-quarter comeback over the Bears in Week 1, McCarthy stumbled against the Falcons and was subsequently sidelined for five games due to a high-ankle sprain.
The Vikings will face Sam Darnold, their former QB, in Week 13. Getty Images
He returned to action in Week 9, orchestrating a thrilling win over the Lions, before a trio of disappointing outings against the Ravens, Bears and Packers, respectively.
It was reported Monday that McCarthy began exhibiting concussion symptoms on a flight home after the 23-6 road loss to Green Bay on Sunday.