With Kirk Cousins, Nate Stanley and Kellen Mond currently on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list, Jake Browning was the only available quarterback during the Vikings' training camp practice on Monday. Given their current situation, Minnesota has claimed veteran quarterback Danny Etling off waivers, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
While he has never appeared in a regular-season game, Etling had extensive playing time during his rookie preseason with the Patriots in 2018. He went 18 of 32 for 157 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the Patriots' final game of the '18 preseason. Etling also rushed for 113 yards, including an 86-yard TD, on seven carries while leading New England to a 17-12 win over the Giants. Etling spent the season on the practice squad after failing to make the Patriots' 53-man roster.
After a brief switch to receiver, Etling moved back to quarterback after being claimed off waivers by the Falcons in August 2019. Etling spent the 2020 season on the Seahawks' practice squad before being waived on Sunday when the Seahawks signed former Vikings backup Sean Mannion.
The 27-year-old quarterback played collegiately at Purdue and LSU. In 35 college starts, Etling completed nearly 58% of his passes for just over 7,000 yards with 43 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. During his final season with the Tigers, Etling threw 16 touchdowns against just two interceptions while helping lead LSU to a 9-4 record.
With the majority of his quarterbacks out, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer called for a series of Wildcat snaps to running back Dalvin Cook during Monday's practice. Zimmer quipped this could be be a foreshadowing of a things to come this season.
"I told [the team] we had to line up that way a few times, because hey, maybe this happens during the year," Zimmer said, via Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune. "I also told the receivers they're probably not catching many balls that day, either."
The Vikings also signed QB Case Cookus, who was brought in for a workout earlier this week. Cookis had brief stints with the Giants and Broncos.
