The Minnesota Vikings made a surprising decision on Thursday morning by waiving quarterback Jaren Hall to sign veteran Brett Rypien, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. This move comes despite Hall’s notable progress during the preseason. A fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft, Hall spent most of his rookie season as the Vikings’ third-string quarterback but was called into action for two starts. In his first career start against the Atlanta Falcons on November 5, Hall completed 5-of-6 passes for 78 yards before a concussion forced him out of the game. He also started against the Green Bay Packers on New Year’s Eve but struggled, completing just 5-of-10 passes with an interception before being benched at halftime.
Hall’s position on the roster became uncertain after the arrival of J.J. McCarthy, but McCarthy’s season-ending knee injury gave Hall another opportunity. Hall stepped in for McCarthy in the first preseason game, leading a game-winning drive against the Las Vegas Raiders, and followed up with a solid performance in the second game, completing 4-of-5 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns. His best showing came in the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, where he completed 17-of-25 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns, making it seem likely he would secure a roster spot. However, the Vikings opted for Rypien, possibly due to concerns about a leg contusion Hall sustained or differing evaluations of his performance.
Rypien, nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Mark Rypien, has four years of NFL experience and played with the Los Angeles Rams last year, completing 18-of-38 passes for 172 yards and an interception in two games. Over his career, the 27-year-old has appeared in 10 games with four starts, posting a 58.3 percent completion rate for 950 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
The decision to replace Hall, a developmental prospect from BYU, with a veteran like Rypien may reflect the Vikings’ desire for a more experienced presence as their third quarterback, especially with Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens firmly in the top two spots. This move mirrors the Vikings’ previous strategy of keeping experienced quarterbacks like Sean Mannion, who also had ties to the Rams system, in backup roles behind Kirk Cousins. While the Vikings could still try to add Hall to their practice squad, his preseason performances might attract interest from other teams. Ultimately, it seems the Vikings are prioritizing experience, which aligns with head coach Kevin O’Connell’s preference for a seasoned quarterback room.
Leave a Reply