Vikings’ Surprising QB Move: Why Signing Desmond Ridder Could Change Everything After McCarthy’s Injury

When fate throws a curveball—and an ankle injury sidelines Minnesota Vikings’ starter J.J. McCarthy—the team’s response has to be swift and strategic. Enter Desmond Ridder, a quarterback whose journey through the NFL has been anything but ordinary. Drafted in the third round back in 2022, Ridder’s time with the Falcons saw him stepping up as the main man in 2023, and 2024 found him picking up reps in Las Vegas as a backup. Now, with the Vikings adding him to their 53-man roster, there’s a buzz in the air—an underdog story ready to unfold on the gridiron. Meanwhile, Ridder’s recent tour through training camp and preseason action with the Bengals—who opted for other QB options amidst Joe Burrow’s injury woes—adds another twist to this ever-evolving saga. It’s a move that tells you one thing for sure: the NFL’s quarterback carousel shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. LEARN MORE.

The Minnesota Vikings signed former Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Desmond Ridder to their 53-man roster Tuesday following the ankle injury to starter J.J. McCarthy, NFL Network reports.

A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ridder played two seasons with the Falcons and was their primary starter for the 2023 season. He played as a backup and fill-in starter for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024.

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Ridder spent training camp with the Bengals and played with them in the preseason, but Cincinnati looked elsewhere to address its own quarterback concerns. With Joe Burrow sidelined with a long-term toe injury, the Bengals reportedly signed quarterbacks Mike White and Sean Clifford to their practice squad earlier Tuesday.