J.J. McCarthy is the Vikings starting quarterback of the future but a recent signing could put more pressure on his shoulders. After Minnesota traded Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles, they signed former second overall pick Carson Wentz as the new backup to McCarthy.

Wentz, 32, will serve as backup to starter J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota for the 2025 season. Wentz last played for the Rams in '23 and the Chiefs in '24. The Vikings will be his sixth NFL team since being drafted by the Eagles in '16.

The Minnesota Vikings have plenty of confidence in second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but they want a reliable fallback plan if things go south.