Carson Wentz stays put in Minnesota, will return to Vikings on a new one-year deal

Drew Smith
March 19, 2026
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Carson Wentz is returning to the Minnesota Vikings on a new deal, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. This will mark the first time since his Eagles days that Wentz has played for the same team in back-to-back seasons. Let that sink in for a second.

Carson Wentz is staying in Minnesota

The #Vikings are re-signing QB Carson Wentz to a 1-year deal.

He joins Kyler Murray, JJ McCarthy and Max Brosmer. pic.twitter.com/1DJ1mAkPwE
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 19, 2026

Since Philadelphia traded him to Indianapolis in 2021, Carson Wentz has been to the Colts, the Commanders, the Rams, the Chiefs, and then the Vikings last season. Five teams in five years.

The man is a professional nomad at this point and the Vikings are apparently the first organization in half a decade willing to bring him back for a second tour.

To be fair, last season was not entirely his fault. JJ McCarthy started the first two games before Minnesota handed the offense to Wentz, who started five games, threw for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions on a 65.1 completion rate before suffering a season-ending injury. It was a perfectly mediocre Wentz performance interrupted by another perfectly timed Wentz injury. Some things never change.

The Vikings went out and signed Kyler Murray this offseason, who is expected to be the clear QB1 in 2026. That puts Carson Wentz and JJ McCarthy in competition for the backup role, which is about the right level of stakes for where he is in his career at 33.

The durability concern is real. Carson Wentz was sacked 19 times in five starts last season. If Minnesota’s pass protection does not improve and his usage is not managed carefully, the outcome is probably the same as it was in 2025.

Another season that ends earlier than planned.

That said, as a backup to a healthy Kyler Murray, Wentz is a perfectly reasonable insurance policy. He knows the offense. He has starting experience. And unlike some of the alternatives, he at least gives you a fighting chance if something goes wrong with QB1.

Welcome back to Minnesota, Carson. Try to stay upright this time.