Vikings QB Competition Emerges Ahead of Texans Preseason Opener

The Minnesota Vikings‘ plans for Sam Howell are not off to a good start entering their preseason opener against the Houston Texans.

Acquired in a trade and the assumed backup to J.J. McCarthy, Howell has struggled in training camp. He initially took all the second-team reps to start camp but has since lost ground for the QB2 job with Brett Rypien mixing in with the second team.

“I’m wondering if there is a competition for QB2 right now between Sam Howell and Brett Rypien? Because if you just watched today’s practice, you would have said, ‘Yeah, that’s two guys taking second team reps, not just one guy.’ And Brett Rypien had a pretty decent day today,” Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller said on August 7 ahead of the preseason opener.

That puts Howell in a make-or-break situation on Saturday when the Vikings face the Texans.

If Howell struggles, the Vikings could move quickly to find a more surefire backup for McCarthy.

After Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond did not impress in the team’s preseason opener in 2022, the Vikings traded for Nick Mullens, who became the QB2 for three years under O’Connell.

McCarthy will start the game on Saturday, and while he will be the headliner for the game, no quarterback will be under a microscope more than Howell.

Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Speaks Out on Sam Howell Ahead of Texans Preseason Opener

GettyFormer Commanders first-round quarterback Sam Howell has struggled in Vikings training camp.

Coming out of the 2022 draft, Howell was coveted for his arm talent and gained buzz as a potential first-round talent.

The NFL ultimately had the final say, as Howell fell to the fifth round and was selected by the Washington Commanders.

Howell won the starting job in his second season but struggled on a lowly Commanders team that did him no favors. He led the league in interceptions (21) and sacks (65) but also threw for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns on a team that was frequently playing from behind.

The Commanders drafted Jayden Daniels the following spring, leading to Howell’s release. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks last season but struggled in limited action, leading to his landing in Minnesota for a Day 3 pick swap.

Accustomed to playing hero ball on bad teams, Howell is plagued by a similar experience that Sam Darnold dealt with earlier in his career.

“I think he has really flashed his arm talent,” O’Connell said, per the Pioneer Press. “What I’m looking for is consistency as he’s able to log some more days.”

QB Cast Behind J.J. McCarthy Expected to Play Penty

GettyJ.J. McCarthy believes he will improve with the season around the corner.

Entering Saturday’s game, the Vikings have a pretty clear picture of Rypien, who was largely a practice-squad quarterback for the team last year.

Rypien is a known commodity and has had his ups and downs. However, rookie Max Brosmer has flashed some promise but is still viewed largely as a developmental talent.

The trio behind McCarthy should get some tread throughout the preseason, according to O’Connell.

“My expectation is that all of those guys will get a ton of reps,” O’Connell said. “We want to mix and match and let those guys compete.”