Vikings Trade Sam Howell to Eagles, Sign Carson Wentz as Veteran Backup to J.J. McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings reshaped their quarterback room Sunday, trading Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles and signing former Philly starter Carson Wentz to back up second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

The Trade

Minnesota dealt Howell and a 2026 sixth-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for a 2026 fifth-rounder and a 2027 seventh-round pick. The move marks the third time Howell has been traded since entering the league as a fifth-round selection by Washington in 2022.

Howell, 24, joins an Eagles quarterback room that includes Tanner McKee, currently sidelined with a finger injury, and rookie Kyle McCord behind Jalen Hurts. Philadelphia waived defensive back Lewis Cine to open a roster spot for Howell.

The Eagles also shuffled their roster Sunday, acquiring offensive tackle Fred Johnson from Jacksonville and trading tackle Darian Kinnard to Green Bay.

The Wentz Signing

To fill the vacancy left by Howell, Minnesota turned to a familiar name. Wentz, once the No. 2 overall pick by the Eagles in 2016, signed with the Vikings after working out for the team earlier in the week. He spent 2024 as Patrick Mahomes’ backup in Kansas City following a stint behind Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles.

Now 32, Wentz is expected to provide a veteran presence for McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus. The Vikings view Wentz as a quick study in their system — he previously played with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown in Philadelphia and has experience in schemes similar to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s.

Wentz has thrown for 22,410 yards, 153 touchdowns and 67 interceptions across nine NFL seasons. His best year came in 2017, when he finished third in MVP voting before a torn ACL sidelined him during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run.

Minnesota’s QB Shuffle

The Vikings’ quarterback search has been one of the offseason’s bigger storylines. Veterans Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones declined Minnesota’s offers in March, wary of sitting behind McCarthy. The team even explored an overture to Aaron Rodgers, who ultimately landed in Pittsburgh.

Howell, acquired from Seattle in April, struggled during camp and didn’t play in the preseason finale against Tennessee. Coaches admire undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who now has a path to stick as the No. 3 quarterback. Minnesota also released veteran Brett Rypien on Sunday as part of the shake-up.

What It Means

For the Vikings, Wentz’s arrival ends a long search for a steady backup and gives McCarthy an experienced mentor as he enters his first full season as a starter. For the Eagles, Howell provides much-needed depth behind Hurts, especially with McKee’s finger injury leaving his Week 1 status uncertain.