Who is the Vikings backup QB? Daniel Jones is QB3 in first game on active roster

On By Littum

The Minnesota Vikings made a change to their quarterback depth chart prior to their wild card playoff clash with Los Angeles Rams.

Last Tuesday, after Minnesota’s Week 18 loss to Detroit Lionsthe team elevated the quarterback Daniel Jones to their active roster from the training squad. The Vikings waived third-string quarterback Brett Rypien before re-signing him to their practice squad to make room for Jones on their roster.

When asked earlier this week where the former New York Giants quarterback is now falling on their depth chart, head coach Kevin O’Connell played lukewarm.

“Daniel Jones is going to be one of the quarterbacks on the roster for the team, I made that very clear the other day,” O’Connell said. “I think it’s very important to understand, Nick Mullens has been our no. 2 quarterback all season for a reason — my trust in Nick.”

He went on to say that the backup spot on the Vikings’ depth chart “may look different” if he feels it would give the team a better chance to advance in the playoffs.

Here’s what we know so far:

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Vikings QB depth chart: Who is Minnesota’s backup quarterback?

When Minnesota announced their inactives for Monday night’s game, Jones was listed as the emergency third quarterback.

That means Mullens will back up the starter Sam Darnold against Aries.

Here’s what the Vikings quarterback depth chart looks like ahead of their wild card game against the Rams:

  1. Sam Darnold

  2. Nick Mullens

  3. Daniel Jones

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Daniel Jones contract details

Jones signed a contract with the Vikings for a prorated portion of the veteran’s minimum salary midway through the 2024 season. Since he has been in the league for more than four years, the veteran minimum would total $1.125 million. Minnesota is only paying a fraction of that since it acquired him after Week 12 of the season.

The Giants are also paying Jones the roughly $14 million he is owed for the remainder of the 2024 season. He was in the second year of a four-year, $160 million contract with the team before it cut him earlier this year. New York will also be on the hook for $22.2 in dead cap next year from Jones’ contract.

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Daniel Jones statistics

Here’s how Jones’ stats looked through 10 games in 2024 before the Giants benched and then cut him:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vikings backup QB: Daniel Jones is third on the depth chart vs. Rams