In a stunning turn of events, the Minnesota Vikings have bolstered their roster by signing quarterback Desmond Ridder just days after starter J.J. McCarthy succumbed to a painful ankle injury during a tough loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

This strategic move, first unveiled by the NFL Network, provides the Vikings with a seasoned backup to step in for their critical match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend.

McCarthy, only 22, is sidelined for an estimated 2-4 weeks, according to ESPN. This leaves veteran Carson Wentz as the starting signal-caller—but with Ridder now in the mix, the Vikings are keen to fortify their QB depth.

At 26 years old, Ridder comes with a notable three seasons of NFL experience, having played 19 games with the Falcons before making an appearance in six games with the Raiders last season.

Originally a third-round draft pick by the Falcons in 2022, Ridder had a brief stint with the Bengals that ended after he was cut during final roster cuts. In his pre-season debut with Cincinnati, he completed 8 of 20 passes for 75 yards and threw one interception against the Colts.

The injury to McCarthy occurred during the third quarter of Sunday’s game, where he was rolled up on during a second-and-20 play. Despite being evaluated on the sideline, he bravely returned to finish the game.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell expressed the team's shock at McCarthy's injury, stating, "It was pretty crushing when we heard the news... Initially, we didn’t think it was serious, but adrenaline can be deceiving with these injuries."

Looking ahead, Wentz, who’s 32, is set to lead the Vikings in their upcoming clash with the Bengals. Should he take the field, he will make NFL history as the first quarterback to start for six different teams in six consecutive seasons—a remarkable feat that adds another layer of intrigue to this unfolding saga.