EAGAN, Minn. — Max Brosmer felt good breaking down the huddle Friday.
The undrafted rookie will start Sunday in place of J.J. McCarthy, who remains in the concussion protocol.
Brosmer seemed cool, calm and collected standing in front of his locker following practice, expressing confidence to media members entering his regular-season debut. The even-keel demeanor seems to come naturally to the 24-year-old, but having the belief of his teammates helps, as well.
"You go into a locker room, and it can be cliquey sometimes, and that's not this locker room at all," Brosmer said. "There's not a clique in this locker room; everyone is one big melting pot. And coming into that as a QB is really cool, where you feel like you kind of just mesh right in with the huddle and mesh around the team.
"Breaking down the team today was really cool," he added. "Everything just felt — I felt there was a really cool unity with the team, and I'm proud and honored to be a part of that. And I'm excited for the team to go showcase that this weekend."
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell has spoken highly of Brosmer throughout the year and did so again this week, noting his confidence in the QB goes all the way back to training camp and "watching the way he was able to efficiently run our offense" with whomever he took reps with.
"And then to have him command the huddle the way he did this week — [I'm] not sure the ball hit the ground today, just with the efficiency at which we were operating and throwing and guys were flying around," O'Connell said. "So I think there's confidence in Max, and like I said, I'm excited to see him as a guy that I've been watching behind the scenes do a lot of work and continue to just make it about the stuff that's important."
There might not be a bigger challenge than what's ahead of Brosmer, going against a current top-7 defense on the road in one of the NFL's more hostile environments.
He knows it won't be easy facing Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald, who — interestingly enough — attended the same high school Brosmer did. But the former Golden Gopher is embracing the situation and isn't letting the moment get too big for him.
Instead, he's relying on the groundwork he's been laying all season.
"I pride myself on being the most prepared guy on the field at all times," Brosmer said. "That's just something that I feel caters to my strengths. I was never the most athletic guy, never the strongest guy, but I felt like I could do it better with my mind on the field. And that's playing NFL quarterback."
Brosmer later reiterated the mental aspect, noting his distinction between "nerves" and "nervousness," saying the latter can be harmful while the former is almost necessary to succeed.
"I think it's great to have nerves because that's what locks you in. But the nervous piece comes with anxiousness, and that's not me. And that's not this team," Brosmer said. "You know, I think the nerves you grow up playing with from third and fourth grade, and you're like, 'I can't wait for game day.' Riding in the car with my mom to go play, you know, Saturday with the guys, with the kids, playing pee-wee football."
Brosmer won't be catching a ride to Seattle with his mom, but he likens the anticipation to those days, nonetheless.
"You have those nerves, and that's what makes you great," he said. "You go to the NFL, it's the exact same thing. You have to have those nerves to play great. This team capitalizes on and owns those. That's why we have the playmakers in this room to go win the football game."
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