The Minnesota Vikings are signing former Cincinnati Bearcats star quarterback Desmond Ridder to their 53-man roster ahead of their NFL Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
The Vikings announced earlier this week that starting QB JJ McCarthy was expected to miss the game against Cincinnati because of an ankle sprain. Carson Wentz is McCarthy’s backup QB.
Ridder signed with the Bengals in July and spent training camp with the team. He was among players released by the team as it reached its 53-man roster ahead of the NFL’s deadline.
Bengals backup Brett Rypien, signed Sept. 16 to Cincinnati’s active roster, spent the 2024 season on the Vikings’ practice squad.
In October 2024, the Las Vegas Raiders signed the former UC quarterback off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. He played in six games last season for the Raiders, including a 41-24 loss to the Bengals in which he had 74 passing yards with a touchdown pass.
Ridder, a 2022 third-round draft pick who helped the Bearcats to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance in his fourth and final season as UC’s quarterback, was released in August 2024 by the Cardinals, but then added to their practice squad.
Ridder was traded in March 2024 to Arizona from the Atlanta Falcons.
Ridder has played in 25 regular-season games over three NFL seasons with 18 starts, completing 64 percent of his passes with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, adding five rushing TDs. Former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith benched Ridder after naming him the Falcons’ starter before the 2023 season.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Vikings sign former UC Bearcats star Desmond Ridder ahead of Week 3 game vs Bengals
Reporting by Dave Clark, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
