With Wentz out for the season, Vikings sign new QB to practice squad
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With Carson Wentz now out for the season for surgery on his injured shoulder, the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday signed another quarterback to their practice squad.
John Wolford has played for four teams in his NFL career — most notably for the Los Angeles Rams.
He’ll potentially provide the Vikings a bit of insurance at that position, as Wentz’s injury has left Minnesota with only two other quarterbacks on the roster.
J.J. McCarthy is expected to return to the starting lineup for this weekend’s game against Detroit, after several weeks out with an ankle injury. The Vikings also have rookie backup Max Brosmer.
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Wolford, 30, comes to Minnesota after being waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars before the start of this season. He’s also spent time with Tampa Bay and the New York Jets.
With the Rams, Wolford played in seven regular-season games, starting four of them, from 2020-22. He also started a playoff game for the Rams in 2020, but left that game with an injury.
Wolford’s tenure with the Rams overlapped with current Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips’ time with that team.
His signing to the practice squad comes two days after the Vikings placed Wentz on injured reserve, after he gutted out a shoulder injury during the past 2 1/2 games of his five-game fill-in for McCarthy.
Wentz will have season-ending surgery on his left, non-throwing shoulder, according to a person with knowledge of the plans who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Vikings had not yet announced those details.
Wentz, who signed with the team he grew up rooting for in neighboring North Dakota the week before the regular season began, went from veteran backup to starter after McCarthy suffered a high sprain of his right ankle during the second game of the season.
The Vikings went 2-3 with Wentz, including a 37-10 blowout by the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. He was first hurt in the first half on Oct. 5 in London against the Cleveland Browns.
Wentz was under heavy pressure that night, with starting tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill and original starting center Ryan Kelly all sidelined by injury, and he took several hard hits that had him wincing. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said he was told by the medical staff that Wentz wasn't risking further damage by staying in the game, so he decided not to expose undrafted rookie backup Max Brosmer to the pass rush behind a patchwork offensive line and kept Wentz in until the final drive.
Wentz, who was the second pick in the 2016 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, extended his league record by making Minnesota the sixth team he has made at least one start for over the last six seasons.
