JJ McCarthy looking on. The Vikings signed Desmond Ridder.JJ McCarthy (Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images)
The Minnesota Vikings have signed former Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Desmond Ridder following the brutal JJ McCarthy injury update.

On Monday, news broke that JJ McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. The second-year quarterback had a rough Week 2 performance against the Atlanta Falcons, turning the ball over thrice and getting sacked six times in an ugly 22-6 defeat.

Veteran journeyman Carson Wentz and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer were the only healthy QBs on the Vikings roster for 24 hours, but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah decided to add another insurance policy ahead of Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Vikings have signed Desmond Ridder to their 53-man roster. Ridder was let go by the Bengals ahead of final roster cuts last month.


Wentz will start Week 3 against Cincinnati, but head coach Kevin O’Connell may give Desmond Ridder a look if the former Philadelphia Eagles’ star fails to produce.

The Bengals also lost their starting quarterback, Joe Burrow, to injury in Week 2. They also made a notable move at QB on Tuesday, signing former New York Jets fan favorite Mike White.

Desmond Ridder Gets A Fresh Start With Vikings

Desmond Ridder (Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Ridder was considered one of the top quarterback prospects in a 2022 NFL Draft class that was weak on signal-callers. He was the second quarterback taken that year at No. 74 overall by the Falcons, after Kenny Pickett went to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20.

Desmond Ridder started 17 games over two seasons on a mediocre Falcons team, going 8-9 with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He never got a fair chance to succeed in Atlanta, and Kirk Cousins’ struggles in 2024 prove that.

He also got one start on a lousy Las Vegas Raiders team last year. But finally, Ridder lands on a competitive team in Minnesota, led by the reigning Offensive Coach of the Year. If the Vikings end up giving Ridder a look, he just might manage to enjoy a career revival of some sort like Sam Darnold in 2024.

REPORT: Shocking New Details Reveal Michael Jordan’s Hidden Power Move With NBC Sports

New details reveal Michael Jordan’s exact role with NBC Sports, offering fresh insight into his growing influence off the courtMichael Jordan (Photo by Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)
NBC dropped a huge announcement when they roped in the services of Michael Jordan. With the league returning to the network next season, NBC is said to have some big plans with the Chicago Bulls legend. While it is clear that he will be a part of the overall coverage, the media outlet has remained tight-lipped about the same. Till now, it was only known that Jordan will be acting as a ‘special contributor’ for NBC. But now, there might be some shocking details emerging.

Speaking on the topic, Alex Sherman of ‘CNBC’ provided some insight into the matter. He pointed out that the preliminary plans for Jordan are to appear in taped segments. This way, Jordan will be providing analysis on the games. These tapes are expected to be aired either at halftime or at the end of each game.

Sherman also pointed out that NBC will also keep the opportunity for Jordan’s role to evolve in the future. Extending the topic further, ‘CNBC’ also reported that the deal with Jordan was orchestrated by none other than his longtime friend, Jon Miller. Meanwhile, after landing such a huge deal, it is quite expected that Michael Jordan will be elated.

Michael Jordan Gets Candid About His Feelings After The NBC Deals

Sep 1, 2024; Darlington, South Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series Team 23XI owner Michael Jordan watches a video board as NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) races during the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
After the announcements were made, Jordan looked quite happy to have landed himself a big role. Afterall, considering the legend he is, Jordan’s valuable insights will be a great addition to the league’s coverage. Shedding light on the matter, Jordan stated how he was utterly excited to be working with NBC.

“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” Jordan said in a short clip. “The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.”

Thus, with things looking quite upbeat for Jordan, it now remains to be seen how things pan out in the future.