Reunion With 15K-Yard QB Could Prove Vikings’ Solution Under Center

The Minnesota Vikings likely need to add another quarterback behind J.J. McCarthy, even after Sam Howell showed out against the Houston Texans in the team’s preseason opener over the weekend.

Howell went 11-of-13 for 105 yards through the air and posted a QB rating of 100.3 in Minnesota’s 20-10 victory, but that doesn’t erase the two weeks of struggles he has had throughout training camp or the fact that the coaching staff benched him roughly one week ago for Brett Rypien after a particularly rough practice session.

If McCarthy wasn’t entirely inexperienced at the NFL level, or if Minnesota could be certain its young QB isn’t injury prone after missing his rookie year with a bad knee, of if the Vikings didn’t have one of the best rosters in football and legitimate Super Bowl aspirations if they can get halfway decent play under center — then betting on Howell as the QB2 would be considerably easier.

However, team insiders predicted following Howell’s benching that the franchise would hunt a trade or free-agent signing to upgrade the roster at the game’s most critical position. One player who makes sense and may also be available in the coming weeks is Chicago Bears reserve veteran Case Keenum.

Case Keenum Currently Battling Tyson Bagent for Backup QB Job With Bears, Loser Could Prove Option for Vikings

Keenum is currently embroiled in a battle with Tyson Bagent for the QB2 spot behind Caleb Williams in Chicago.

Should Keenum win that job, Minnesota could consider a trade offer for Bagent, who has one year remaining on his $2.7 million contract. But if Keenum, who is now 37 years old, fails to overtake Bagent, he will potentially head to the trade block.

It is possible the Bears could just cut Keenum if he falls to the QB3 position. The team has 2024 undrafted free agent Austin Reed on the roster who could fill the signal-caller spot on the practice squad like he did last year.

But Keenum is making $2.25 million this season, with most of that guaranteed, so it is more likely Chicago would want to trade him. Minnesota wouldn’t have to give up much to acquire Keenum — maybe a seventh-round pick or some kind of late-round pick swap, or perhaps even just cash considerations.

That would bring something back to Chicago, while Minnesota would get an established veteran who won 11 games for the franchise once upon a time in 2017.

Case Keenum Can Provide Vikings With Veteran Backup QB Roster Is Currently Missing

Keenum played just one year for the Vikings, going 11-3 and throwing for 3,547 yards, 22 TDs and seven INTs.

His work in Minnesota that season got Keenum paid by the Denver Broncos, who signed him to a two-year contract worth $36 million total.

For his career, Keenum has amassed 15,175 passing yards, 79 TDs and 51 INTs. He has played in 80 regular-season games, starting 66 of those with a career record of 30-36.

Keenum went 1-1 as the Texans’ starter in 2023 but not play a snap during the 2024 campaign.