EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are bringing back a veteran quarterback with 99 career starts.

Minnesota on Thursday announced it has agreed to terms with Carson Wentz, strengthening its quarterbacks room that added Kyler Murray in free agency last Thursday. Wentz, 33, won two of five starts for the club last season in relief of 2024 No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy before having season-ending shoulder surgery.

With Wentz rejoining the fold, Minnesota's depth chart consists of three QBs selected in the Top 10 of their respective drafts — Wentz at No. 2 in 2016; Murray at No. 1 in 2019; and McCarthy — in addition to 2025 undrafted free agent Max Brosmer, who starred at the University of Minnesota two years ago.

Wentz is 49-49-1 as a starter across 10 seasons and has tossed 159 touchdowns against 72 interceptions. While filling in for McCarthy during Weeks 3-8 in 2025, he completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns and five picks. His passer rating was 85.8, a bit lower than his career mark of 89.1.

Highlights of Wentz's initial time in Minnesota included his starting debut at home — a 48-10 rout of Cincinnati, in which he performed efficiently and protected the football while the defense put on a show; as well as his heroics in Week 5 in London against the Browns. Wentz found receiver Jordan Addison for the go-ahead score in that contest with 25 seconds left, and he passed for 236 yards without a turnover.

Wentz was similarly productive in Minnesota's narrow loss to Pittsburgh in Ireland (350 passing yards) and the team's almost-upset of then-reigning Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia at U.S. Bank Stadium.

He first suffered his shoulder injury against the Browns but finished that game and then gutted through major pain — plus the awkwardness of a large shoulder brace — in losses to the Eagles and the Chargers.

The 2026 season will be Wentz's first time returning to a team since his five-year run as Philadelphia's franchise quarterback. He spent 2021 as Indianapolis' starter, made seven starts with Washington in 2022, and then he embraced backup roles with the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City in 2023 and 2024.

Wentz was not part of Minnesota's offseason program last year. Instead, he was signed in late August. He quickly connected to the fan base because he rooted for the Vikings as a child and is a gritty competitor.

The quartet of quarterbacks on the Vikings roster have started 198 games and own a record of 94-102-2. The experience level is a stark contrast to this time a year ago, when McCarthy and Brett Rypien (four career starts) were alone in the QB room.

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