Vikings sign QB John Wolford after Carson Wentz injury with season teetering

The Minnesota Vikings are replenishing their depleted quarterback room.

Minnesota signed quarterback John Wolford to its practice squad, the team announced Wednesday morning ahead of its Week 9 NFC North matchup against the Detroit Lions.

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Wolford, 30, joins the team after veteran QB Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 23. 

He rounds out a quarterback room led by second-year field general JJ McCarthy, who is anticipated to return against the Lions after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2.

Wolford has appeared in just seven NFL games with four starts for the Rams from 2020-22.

The Wake Forest product reunites with head coach Kevin O’Connell, who served as L.A.’s offensive coordinator from 2020-21.

Wolford made his first career start under O’Connell, completing 22 of 38 passes for 231 yards with an interception to lead the Rams to an 18-7 home win over the Cardinals in the 2020 regular-season finale.

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Speaking with reporters ahead of that game, O’Connell lauded the backup for his preparation and accountability, emphasizing that “all 53 guys on our roster are confident John can take that preparation to the game.”

Wolford later started the 2021 NFL wild-card game against the Seahawks but was quickly replaced by Jared Goff, who propelled the team to victory before being traded to the Lions the following season.

While Wolford hasn’t seen NFL action in three years, the Super Bowl champion spent last season and training camp with the Jaguars under offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, who was Minnesota’s assistant quarterbacks coach from 2022-24. 

The Vikings (3-4) aim to snap a two-game skid in the Motor City on Nov. 2.