Vikings Keep Four QBs: 53-Man Roster Breakdown & Preseason Recap

EAGAN, MINNESOTA - JUNE 10: Kyler Murray #1 of the Minnesota Vikings participates in a drill during minicamp at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on June 10, 2026 in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Vikings 53-Man Roster Breakdown: Four QBs, Rookies Rising, and a Preseason to Forget - The Minnesota Vikings finalized their 53-man roster after a dismal preseason featuring just one offensive touchdown, and the biggest headline is keeping four quarterbacks - Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz, J.J. McCarthy, and Max Brosmer - on the active roster. Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano broke it all down on the latest episode of Two Old Bloggers, a Vikings 1st & SKOL production, covering roster surprises, quarterback controversy, defensive line questions, and a trip down franchise history lane.

The Friday night 34-6 loss to Denver was, as Darren put it, another very miserable viewing experience for Vikings fans." With McCarthy sitting out due to a sore ankle, the quarterback depth chart remains unsettled. This was his one last chance before the season started to give me some confidence in him as the backup quarterback, and he did not do that because he did not play," Darren said. Yet he supports keeping McCarthy: I want J.J. McCarthy to stay on this team right now... at times, he showed ability to move the team and have the offense hopping." Dave agreed, noting all four QBs all have injury histories," which justified the unusual four-quarterback approach.

Key Points from the Episode:

• Four QBs kept: Murray, Wentz, McCarthy, and Brosmer all made the 53 - a rarity in the NFL. Darren called it a surprising roster decision," noting Brosmer's spot could've gone to a special teams contributor.
• Punter change: Johnny Hekker was released in favor of rookie Brett Thorson. It's not a case where Hekker clearly outplayed him," Darren noted, citing Thorson's bigger leg and lower cost.
• Jacob Thomas steals the show: The undrafted safety from James Madison was the surprise of camp. Brian Flores was giving him flowers in press conferences," Dave said. Darren added Thomas was telling other players, veteran players like Jay Ward, where to be on the field" - remarkable for a UDFA.
• Defensive line goes young: With Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave gone, Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins step into starting roles backed by rookies Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. The bar that those two departed guys set isn't that high," Darren offered as a silver lining.
• Running game revamp: New OL coach Keith Carter and run game coordinator Frank Smith bring a physical philosophy. Darren remains cautious: We've heard this before... and the results always seem to be the same."
• Rivalries uniform revealed: The Vikings unveiled new alternate jerseys for the December 20 Lions game. Darren admitted jersey fatigue" but liked the Nordic rune designs.
• Pro Bowl abolished: The NFL scrapped the Pro Bowl game entirely. Just have a legit decision on who the best players are and announce them," Darren said.
• Franchise firsts: Chuck Foreman was the first 1,000-yard rusher (1975), Warren Moon the first 4,000-yard passer (1994), and John Gilliam the first 1,000-yard receiver (1972) - all explored in a fun history segment.

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The 2026 season kicks off in two weeks against the Packers, and questions abound. Can Kyler Murray master KOC's offense? Will the youthful defensive line hold up? Is Jacob Thomas the real deal? For the full breakdown - including roster bubble analysis, injury updates, and a deep dive into Vikings franchise history - tune in to Two Old Bloggers with Darren and Dave, a Minnesota Vikings podcast on the Bleav Network. Like, subscribe, and SKOL.

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Open Question for Readers:

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