Desmond Ridder beat out another QB in Vikings tryout after J.J. McCarthy injury

It wasn’t easy for Desmond Ridder to land a spot in Minnesota. 

The 26-year-old quarterback won a tryout over fellow journeyman signal-caller Dorian Thompson-Robinson before signing with the Vikings on Tuesday, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. 

Ridder will serve as the Vikings’ emergency third-string quarterback behind starter Carson Wentz and backup Max Brosmer, who is an undrafted rookie, when Minnesota takes on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The Vikings are scrambling in the aftermath of the injury to J.J. McCarthy, who was ruled out for 2-4 weeks with a high ankle sprain earlier this week.

McCarthy hurt his ankle in the third quarter of Sunday night’s loss to the Falcons on a second-and-20 play and was evaluated on the sideline but finished the game. 

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said it was “pretty crushing” when he heard the news of McCarthy’s injury.

Ridder appeared in six games for the Raiders last season.

The former third-round pick spent the first two seasons of his NFL career with the Falcons, playing in 19 games (17 starts). 

Ridder spent much of training camp with the Bengals, but was cut by the team just before the start of the season.

Thompson-Robinson, who spent the past two seasons with the Browns after being drafted in the fifth round by Cleveland in 2023, remains a free agent. 

The Vikings (1-1) are also dealing with injuries in their running back room after starter Aaron Jones was put on injury reserve with a hamstring strain. 

Jordan Mason is expected to serve as the RB1 in Jones’ absence. 

The Vikings also signed ball carrier Cam Akers, who has spent parts of the past two seasons with Minnesota, to their practice squad. 

“We’re definitely dealing with some adversity right now, for sure,” O’Connell said Monday.