The Minnesota Vikings entered the offseason knowing that Sam Darnold was going to sign elsewhere, and also knowing that they needed a veteran QB to be J.J. McCarthy's backup.
They addressed the need during April's NFL Draft, making a draft day trade with the Seattle Seahwks to acquire Sam Howell, an athletic quarterback with starting experience.
That appeared to be that. Howell was never going to threaten McCarthy's job this summer, but he'd be an able backup.
Except in mid-August, the Vikings changed course.
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In the span of just an hour, they traded Howell away to the Philadelphia Eagles and signed free agent QB Carson Wentz as his replacement.
It didn't give Wentz a full summer with the Vikings, but they clearly must've felt he was their preferred backup option.
Howell was needed in Philly with planned-for QB2 Tanner McKee injured, so he slotted temporarily right behind Jalen Hurts.
And Wentz came to town to be McCarthy's actual veteran backup.
Of course, Minnesota would've loved for McCarthy's first season as a starter (after a season-ending knee injury as a rookie) to be smooth.
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In the opener, he struggled for three quarters before a valiant final frame was enough for a comeback.
McCarthy never got off the ground in Week 2's loss to the Falcons.
And late in that game, he hurt his ankle. He's expected to miss Week 3 against the Bengals.
That leaves Wentz. He wasn't even with the Vikings until the middle of the preseason. But the former No. 2 overall pick is now staring at a start in Week 3.
Minnesota will be hoping it made the right move to send Howell away and bring Wentz on board.
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