Vikings Sign Championship-Winning QB for Detroit Lions Game
The Minnesota Vikings have been dealing with quarterback woes since the start of this season, starting with franchise quarterback J.J. McCarthy getting injured during the team’s Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Of course, McCarthy was also out for his entire rookie season in 2024, so being injured is nothing new for him, and the Vikings have been forced to deal with it. Now, they’re gearing up for a game against the Detroit Lions.
Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz is out for the rest of the season. Even thought McCarthy is coming back from his five-game absence to play the Detroit Lions, that leaves the Vikings with undrafted rookie free agent Max Brosmer as their other available signal-caller.
Well, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell wasn’t going to leave anything to chance against the team’s NFC North rivals. So, the Vikings have signed a championship-winning quarterback to be ready in case McCarthy and Brosmer are sidelined on Sunday.
Minnesota Vikings Bring on New Quarterback Against the Detroit Lions
On Wednesday, October 29, the Vikings took to social media to announced that they’ve signed quarterback John Wolford to the practice squad. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Wolford and O’Connell know each other well. “They were together with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 and 2021, and there have been previous failed efforts to get him to Minnesota,” he noted in a post on X. The two even duo won a Super Bowl together in Los Angeles in 2021.
Wolford is in his eighth season in the league. He first signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets in 2018, but he has also played with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in addition to Los Angeles.
“Wolford joins the Vikings a day after the team placed Carson Wentz on Injured Reserve because of a shoulder injury that will require surgery,” Craig Peters of the Vikings’ official website notes in a Wednesday, October 29 piece, adding that the Vikings will start McCarthy against Detroit in Week 9 and still have Brosmer serve as the backup.
Detroit Lions Make Their Own Deal
Of course, the Lions also had a big signing on Wednesday. Detroit has announced that they’ve come to a deal with defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, and it’s a four-year, $180 million contract extension.
The contract includes $180 million with $141 million guaranteed. That figure is historic, because the $141 million guaranteed marks the most ever for a non-quarterback. Also, Hutchinson’s $45 million per-year average puts him behind only Micah Parson’s contract with the Green Bay Packers, which is $46.5 million per year.
Hutchinson has been one of the strongest pieces of the Lions puzzle ever since he joined the team in 2022. Detroit drafted him No. 2 overall out of the University of Michigan back in 2022. Hutchinson leads the NFL with 48 pressures and posted a sack in five of the last six games, as well as a forced or recovered fumble in five consecutive games.
The Detroit Lions will need Hutchinson against McCarthy and the Vikings’ offense, although the Lions are favored to win by 11 points by Pete Prisco of CBS Sports. Prisco’s 31-20 prediction also promises a “big day” for Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
Broncos Trade Proposal Lands Former Ravens Draft Pick to Help Bo Nix
The Denver Broncos are in an interesting spot, sitting at 6-2 and atop the AFC West entering Week 9 with the trade deadline less than one week away, but a move that helps quarterback
ESPN’s staff put together a trade deadline breakdown, and Ben Solak suggested the Broncos attempt to trade for former Baltimore Ravens starter
Cleveland could help the Broncos tread water until they get their starter, Ben Powers, back.
Broncos Urged to Trade for Ravens OG Ben Cleveland
GettyBen Cleveland #66 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during training camp.
The Broncos lost starting left guard Ben Powers to injured reserve with a torn biceps, and replacement Matt Peart followed him. The Broncos got by with Alex Palczewski against the
That is where Cleveland could be of service to the Broncos after falling out of favor with the Ravens, who drafted him with the 94th overall pick of the 2021 draft.
This Heavy Sports Broncos trade pitch sends a late-round pick to the Ravens for Cleveland.
Broncos get:
- Ben Cleveland
Ravens get:
- 2026 sixth-round draft pick
“The Broncos could be looking for depth at guard following the injury to Ben Powers, whom they signed from Baltimore two years ago,”
Cleveland, 27, has appeared in 61 games for the Ravens in his career, but he has seven starts and has never drawn more than four in a single season. That came during his rookie campaign, making Cleveland a risky trade target for the Broncos or any other team looking for help.
Broncos Alex Palczewski Gets Strong Endorsement
The Broncos could be inclined to stand pat at the deadline, given head coach Sean Payton’s strong praise for Palczewski. A former undrafted free agent,
“He’s doing well,” Payton told reporters on October 29. “He doesn’t look like a throw-in left guard. He’s smart. He’s tough. It’s good to see him playing. It’s good when you look at some of the guys we were able to get after the draft and late. That’s like gold, getting those type of players. And we had, that first year, we hit on a number of linemen.”
Palczewski and the Broncos will face the Houston Texans in Week 9. Their strength is off the edges and in the secondary.
The Las Vegas Raiders are also stronger off the edges than they are up the middle.
That matchup is after the deadline anyway. Moreover, Chris Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs loom large in Week 11 and again in Week 17. Powers could return to the field by then, but that remains uncertain.
Skill positions could be enticing, but the Broncos have stocked their cupboards with young, ascending talent behind veterans Courtland Sutton, Evan Engram, and J.K. Dobbins.
Nix avoids sacks well, but a trade for an upgrade at guard could help him and the Broncos.
