usatoday
The Minnesota Vikings boast a formidable defense and a talented supporting cast on offense, but they lack a quarterback who can bring it all together. That deficiency was on full display in a "Monday Night Football" loss to the Buffalo Bills, which cost Minnesota sole possession of first place in the NFC North with less than 24 hours remaining before the 2026 NFL trade deadline.
Following the game, head coach Kevin O'Connell shouldered the blame for failing to help quarterback Carson Wentz find any rhythm against Buffalo. He also declined to shed light on the team's plans to address the quarterback position at the deadline.
"I'll defer to (general manager) Nolan (Teasley) on that," O'Connell said when asked if the Vikings were pursuing a quarterback. "We've had dialogue about a lot of different positions. Tight turnaround obviously, playing the Monday night game before that. We'll get right to work on any potential moves that can be there. Really just focused on the game tonight, which was not good enough in any way, shape or form."
Wentz, filling in for the injured Kyler Murray, endured a dismal outing in Week 9, registering a passer rating of just 8.9 after completing 8 of 25 passes for two interceptions and a lost fumble. For context, a quarterback would post a passer rating of 39.6 by simply spiking the ball on every play.
Minnesota turned to second-year quarterback Max Brosmer in garbage time. The former undrafted free agent completed 6 of 7 passes for 58 yards and a passer rating of 101.2, though Buffalo's defense was not exerting the same pressure it had for most of the night.
With Murray sidelined by a hamstring injury, Wentz and Brosmer are the only two quarterbacks on the Vikings' active roster. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET. As of midnight ET on Nov. 10, Minnesota had not acquired any player via trade.
Ironically, the Vikings' only midseason trade this year involved sending a quarterback away, as they dealt J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants in late September.
Minnesota's next game is against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. ET. The Vikings beat the Packers 39-22 in Week 1, but Green Bay may welcome back star edge rusher Micah Parsons in Week 10. The three-time All-Pro has been working his way back from the ACL tear he sustained in 2025.
Key Analysis
The Vikings' quarterback situation remains a glaring weakness despite a strong defense and supporting cast. O'Connell's refusal to discuss trade deadline plans suggests the team may not have a clear solution, and with Murray's health uncertain, Minnesota's playoff hopes could hinge on finding a reliable signal-caller. The upcoming matchup against Green Bay, potentially with Parsons back, will test whether the Vikings can overcome their quarterback limitations.
Originally reported by usatoday.