Reporter shares interesting update on Vikings' QB plan

As of Wednesday morning, it was still believed that quarterback Aaron Rodgers would choose the Minnesota Vikings over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the event that the Vikings don't want to name 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy their QB1 coming off the full meniscus repair that cost McCarthy his rookie season. 

On Wednesday, ESPN's Kevin Seifert addressed when and why the Vikings would turn to Rodgers before the start of training camp. 

"McCarthy would have to demonstrate overwhelming evidence this spring that he will not be ready to play this season," Seifert explained, "either because of an injury or a complete reversal of the skills and aptitude he demonstrated during his short time in training camp last summer. Consider Rodgers a break-the-glass option in case of an emergency. Otherwise, the Vikings are committed to their plan of getting McCarthy onto the field for the 2025 season."

Seifert's update may show why Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II said on Tuesday that "we keep hearing that [Rodgers] is heading in our direction." While history shows that a 41-year-old future Hall of Fame quarterback doesn't need to be in a club's facility during organized team activities to find success that fall, one would think Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin will want his 2025 Week 1 starter in the building before July comes around. 

In Wednesday's piece, ESPN's Brooke Pryor noted that Rodgers "could consider retirement after his own 20-year career" or "could wait for another team to come calling in the event of an injury." The fact that he recently completed a throwing session with Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf seemingly indicates Rodgers is more interested in playing later this year than in riding off into the sunset. 

With that said, each day Rodgers remains unsigned is one that could involve McCarthy enduring some type of setback that theoretically would cause Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell to reach out to his longtime friend about serving as a temporary starter for a team that won 14 of 16 games this past season until Sam Darnold produced a pair of nightmare outings.