Kevin O’Connell explains the Carson Wentz signing by the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings signed Carson Wentz during the second week of free agency, raising some eyebrows. It was easy to wonder what the signing meant for J.J. McCarthy’s future.

According to Kevin O’Connell, signing Wentz was about elevating the entire quarterback room for 2026. Kyler Murray will likely start Week 1, but the Vikings started three different quarterbacks last year.

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O’Connell was pleased with what he saw from Wentz, he told Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapaport of NFL Network this week, and believes Wentz can operate the offense with little preparation if needed.

Getting Carson Wentz back was about solidifying that room with a veteran, a guy that came in basically about four days before the season started last year. And then three weeks later, we’re playing the Cincinnati Bengals at home. And Carson Wentz seamlessly steps in with no reps in the off-season, no reps in training camp. And we have one of our better performances offensively of the season.

Had Carson not gotten injured, who knows what that final stretch of our season looks like if he was able to consistently get in there and continue to acclimate himself in our offense. And he proved he was able to do all that with no reps in our system.

Undrafted rookie free agent Max Brosmer started two games and appeared in seven last season, throwing zero touchdowns, four interceptions, and fumbling twice. Had Wentz been available, he almost surely would have started in games against the Packers in Week 13 and the Lions on Christmas Day.

Of course, it’s fair to wonder if Wentz would have played more than that when McCarthy played so inconsistently coming back from a high-ankle sprain.

But this year, Murray will likely start. That means Wentz will be prepared to come off the bench and execute the offense with little preparation if needed.

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This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: NFL Free Agency: Carson Wentz signing explained by Kevin O’Coinnell