Preps – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings QB Roster: Can J.J. McCarthy Hold Off Carson Wentz?

Posted on August 16, 2026August 16, 2026 by David Shama

J.J. McCarthy lost the starting quarterback competition to Kyler Murray last week. Now it’s fair to ask whether Carson Wentz will be Murray’s replacement if he is injured during the regular season.

The Vikings first preseason depth chart has McCarthy listed No. 2, with Wentz third and Max Brosmer fourth. In yesterday’s opening preseason game, Murray and first team offensive teammates played for the first nine snaps. McCarthy took over after that and played the balance of the first quarter and all of the second.

McCarthy completed four of seven passes for 34, with no interceptions. He had moments when he looked hurried and produced no points of what would be a 13-10 preseason opening win over the Giants in New Jersey.

Wentz seemingly had the better day, looking more composed, perhaps running the huddle and game plan more effectively. Certainly, his passing was superior as he completed nine of 14 passes including a one-yard touchdown throw to Myles Price in the third quarter that put the Vikings ahead to stay at 13-10.

J.J. McCarthy, Vikings QB, image by David Shama — J.J. McCarthy

There was speculation even before today’s game that Wentz may turn out to be head coach Kevin O’Connell’s preferred choice if Murray is sidelined. McCarthy may again lack consistency in passing and judgment this fall as he works to improve on year three in the NFL including last season when he was anointed as the starter but disappointed.

O’Connell could understandably prefer the 33-year-old Wentz to the 23-year-old McCarthy. Wentz joined the team just days before the season started last year. He showed in limited play, including starts, an ability to quickly understand the offense and make decisions while demonstrating a strong arm, toughness and leadership.

In 10 starts last season McCarthy threw 11 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, with a passer rating of 72.6. In five starts Wentz had 6 TD throws, five interceptions and 85.8 rating.

Those stats are comparable but in a pinch this fall O’Connell might prefer a seemingly less risky decision by turning to Wentz. Especially in a year where it feels like the Vikings declared they need to make the playoffs and also made a offseason priority of tuning up the run game to take pressure off superstar wide receiver Justing Jefferson. A solid run game, coupled with a steady game manager like Wentz who can feed the vertical passing game and potentially create explosive plays, appears to be the bet if Murray goes down.

Worth Noting

Jefferson, who appears to be on a path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, didn’t play yesterday. In his entire NFL career dating back to 2020 he’s never been used in an exhibition game and that won’t be risked in the remaining two games.

The only player, BTW, on the roster longer than Jefferson is offensive tackle Brian O’Neill who was drafted in 2018.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Drake Lindsey had some impressive long passes in the most recent Golden Gophers football practice the media was allowed to watch. Asked who might be No. 2 on the depth chart, head coach P.J. Fleck said on Thursday that Max Shikenjanski, redshirt junior from Stillwater, has excelled since August practices started.

“You know, he had a poor throw today, but it’s very rare for that to happen with indecision. .. But I thought he’s had a tremendous camp.”

Shikenjanski, who insiders believe is No. 2 on the internal depth chart, has only played briefly in two games in his Gopher career. He completed four of five passes for 80 yards and has an eight-yard touchdown run.

The Gophers will host a free admission practice starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday night at Huntington Bank Stadium. The team’s 10 captains will sign autographs for 30 minutes after practice: Maverick Baranowski, Ashton Beers, Kerry Brown, Aidan Gousby, Greg Johnsn, Drake Lindsey, John Nestor, Anthony Smith, Jalen Smith and Darius Taylor.

The Twins, 60-64, have lost 10 of their last 16 games and look like they’re fading in the race to earn a wild card spot in the playoffs.

Baseball birthdays: Twins outfielder-infielder Luke Keaschall turned 24 yesterday, Twins World Series manager Tom Kelly 76.

Golden Gophers men’s basketball coach Niko Medved speaks to the Twin Cities Dunkers on September 9 at Interlachen Country Club. BTW the late John Anderson, the beloved former Gophers baseball coach, spoke 20 times as the featured speaker at Dunkers. The most ever for the organization that began as the Minneapolis Dunkers in 1948.

Becker high school football coaching legend Dwight Lundeen enters his 57^th and final season this year leading that program. Son Matt, head football coach at Redwood Vallely in Redwood Falls, has written a tribute to his dad in the new book Success is Temporary. Impact is Forever. 57 Years of Impact.

“This book isn’t simply about football,” Matt Lundeen said in a news release. “It’s about the kind of legacy every parent, coach, teacher, business leader, and mentor hopes to leave. My dad has spent nearly six decades proving that success is temporary, but the impact we make on others can last for generations.”

The book retails at $17.99 and is available on Amazon.

Good quote for golf hackers like me: “The toughest course is the one between our ears.”

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Max Brosmer Makes a Positive Out of Seahawk Performance

Posted on August 11, 2026August 11, 2026 by David Shama

Max Brosmer, the Vikings second-year quarterback, may lead the QB roster in playing time on Saturday when the team opens its preseason schedule on the road against the Giants.

All four of the team’s quarterbacks could see the field, but perhaps only briefly for Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is in the process of choosing between the two as his regular season starter.

Veteran Carson Wentz, 33, is the presumed backup to Murray and McCarthy. That leaves Brosmer, signed as an undrafted rookie free agent last year, trying to make a QB roster that appears already settled.

O’Connell is a fan of the 2024 Golden Gophers starter. “…Might not have more than one interception in camp. Limited reps but he’s been really good,” O’Connell said Sunday.

NFL teams usually carry three quarterbacks on their final rosters. The mindset for KOC this summer may be that he wants to put his 25-year-old QB on the practice squad but to do so Brosmer would have to clear waivers with 31 other organizations.

And that’s pretty iffy, despite a challenging rookie season for Brosmer.

Former Gopher QB Max Brosmer — Max Brosmer photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

He played in seven regular season games and started two. He threw four interceptions and no touchdown passes. His subpar quarterback rating of 53 spoke to the difficulty of his rookie season.

His first start came against the Seahawks, a 26-0 road loss. He threw four interceptions and was sacked four times. He finished the game with a 32.8 rating.

Brosmer knew the game plan but wasn’t prepared for the moments. He rushed his reads and threw a bit too quickly trying to complete passes.

Processing too fast, forcing the ball and rushing decisions under pressure is not unusual for a rookie quarterback, but that doesn’t change the emotions of a difficult experience. Brosmer said it took a few weeks to “flush” his thoughts about the Seahawk game.

Brosmer told Sports Headliners he took a positive learning approach about the game. “You can either decide to look at that as ‘Woe is me. This is a terrible situation.’

‘Or hey, this is the best thing that ever happened to me.’

“And that’s my mindset about it.”

Brosmer is a savant when it comes to attitude and work ethic. He said he is an improved player because of having more time in the offensive system.

Wentz has helped him grow. The two are often on the same practice field and he watches how Wentz calls plays, does things in the huddle and causes defenders to move around. “It’s been really cool. I’ve been doing my best to apply that and it’s going to help me a lot.”

Brosmer isn’t in an ideal situation as he tries to extend his time with the Vikings. But he’s committed to all the physical and mental effort while enjoying the process “because that’s what I love.’

Worth Noting

Two predictions on subjects that interest Vikings fans the most:

Murray, the 29-year-old veteran of seven prior NFL seasons, will be named the No. 1 quarterback in 14 days or less.

Safety Harrison Smith, 37, will not join the Vikings in training camp and won’t play this season.

The Vikings-Giants game, with a noon start Minneapolis time, will be telecast in this market by FOX 9.

Capital Club founder Patrick Klinger has lined up MSHSL executive director Erich Martens and acclaimed Eden Prairie educator and football coach Mike Grant to speak about the state of youth sports at Mendakota Country Club on August 20. For more information about the breakfast club gathering, contact Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

John Anderson, the beloved former Golden Gophers baseball coach who passed away last month, was so admired by University of Minnesota boosters that some thought he would be a terrific athletics director.

Minnesota’s Mark Coyle and P.J.Fleck, working together since 2017, are the longest tenured athletics director and head football coach duo in the 18 member Big Ten Conference.

In two series this season, the Brewers won four times against the Twins, with Milwaukee earning each of its victories by one run.

Tim Murray, the longtime Murray’s Restaurant advertiser with Sports Headliners, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Target Field on August 18 before the Twins and Braves game in celebration of his establishment’s 80-year anniversary.

Minnesota baseball hall of famer Paul Molitor turns 70 on August 22. Former Gophers women’s basketball coach Pam Borton will be 61 on the same day.

Retired Star Tribune sports columnist Jim Souhan has relocated to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

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These Vikings Deserve Fandom’s Accolades & Appreciation

Posted on July 28, 2026July 28, 2026 by David Shama

The Vikings have a game for the ages on Friday, September 18.

What?

The Minnesota Vikings’ schedule has them in Chicago September 20 for an NFC North Division game against the Bears.

We’re talking about the Minneota High School Vikings. And the good folks in the small southwestern Minnesota town of Minneota have a circle it date on the calendar for September 18.

Minneota has a citizenry of about 1,500 people, with the farm community’s population similar in size to the number of tailgaters outside US Bank Stadium at 6 a.m. on Vikings gameday. The football public in this state is more than aware where the Purple play on September 20, but folks ought to pay attention to what’s happening in Minneota two days prior.

It’s a compelling story about the town and the school with a grades 7-12 enrollment of approximately 300 students.

On that late summer evening the high school Vikings will host the Canby Lancers in a game that will be the talk of the town. The Vikings carry a 46-game win streak into the season and could set a school record on a night of celebration that includes honoring the legendary Gerhard Meidt. It was Meidt’s Minneota teams from 1986-1989 that won 48 consecutive games and set at that time a new state record for prep football in Minnesota.

Gerhard Meidt Stadium in Minneota — Minneota’s renamed stadiuim (photo submitted by Chris Meidt)

This coming season K.P. Kompelien Field becomes Gerhard Meidt Stadium. Dedication ceremonies on the evening of September 18 will also include celebrations of a new stadium scoreboard, signage and lights.

If that weren’t enough, the Lancers are a rivalry team and it’s Minneota’s Homecoming Game. There will even be fireworks on the big night.

“…We’ll do the whole deal,” said Chris Meidt. “It’ll be a great, great event.”

Chris played quarterback for his dad in the 1980s. Last year he attended a game celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the 1985 team that was the school’s first playoff group. The scoreboard malfunctioned in the second quarter and that embarrassment turned out to be a community changing moment.

Chris had a successful run as St. Olaf football coach, and his football resume also includes two seasons (2008 and 2009) as an offensive assistant coach with the NFL Washington Redskins. Now he’s president and CEO of North Risk Partners, a privately owned independent insurance brokerage and risk management firm headquartered in Minnesota. He understands finances and folks in Minneota turned to him to raise money for much of what the town will celebrate on September 18.

Challenge accepted. “I created a committee of one. I was the committee,” Chris said.

In a period of six months $500,000 was raised in donations. The money came almost entirely from Miinneota citizenry. About a dozen families pitched in for a fundraising effort Chris calls a “fun year” that included hearing stories about how Gerhard impacted the lives of people in the community.

It was an expression, too, of how proud donors are of Minneota. And beyond individuals, Chris said it was a “team effort” that also included help from the city and school district.

Gerhard passed away at age 88 in June of last year. What would he think of what’s going on now?

Chris said: “He would tell me, ‘What are you thinking? Why would you do this?’

“…But he passed away. So, he lost his vote. …”

Gerhard, known to many as Gary, arrived in Minneota in 1981 with wife Karen and his children. His background included a wonderful run of football success at Rothsay where his 1972 team won the first ever nine-man state championship. He moved on from Rothsay to Lyle where he was superintendent of schools.

In Minneota he was school superintendent, football coach and choir director. “He was an interesting guy,” Chris said, speaking for a legion of admirers. “He was a renaissance man probably a little bit before his time. But he did it all.

“He was a music major. He was a math teacher. He got his administrative degree. He loved football, loved the tactical side of it.

“He was ultimately just a team guy. He was all about creating team. Didn’t matter if it was music, band, (or) football. He wanted to collaborate together, cheer each other on. That’s what he instilled.”

It wasn’t just the “plug and play” youth that Gerhard cared about. The students who had what Chris referred to as an “edge” about them were not going to be left out of activities and attention if Gerhard could make a difference.

An educator to the core, he was diligent about finding a role for everyone to play and be successful at. “He never wrote anyone off. Ever,” Chris said.

One of his mantras was: “If you don’t love each other, you can’t win together.”

Chris played quarterback for his dad from 1984-1987. He was a prolific passer who once held the state caree record of 8,533 yards. His 1986 and 1987 teams won state Class C championships.

Minneota Athletic High School Hall of Famers Chris and Gerhard Meidt (photo submitted by Chris Meidt)

As quarterback, Chris was allowed to call his own plays, a demonstration of the commitment his father had in developing decision making and leadership in young people.“He just believed you coach them hard during the week and Fridays were for celebrating and letting the kids run the game,” Chris recalled.

Ron Stolski, the retired Brainerd football coaching legend and still the longtime executive director of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, first met Gerhard in 1962. Ron followed and admired Gerhard’s career that had multiple stops.

“As a coach, he was very direct, well organized and demanded discipline,” Ron told Sports Headliners via email. “Traits he carried throughout his outstanding career. …

“It was in Minneota that he realized his greatest success. He was a change agent, an innovator who coached and introduced a multiple formations passing game featuring motion and spread formations that literally changed and affected the high school football landscape in Minnesota.”

Chris and his father are both in the Minneota Athletic High School Hall of Fame. This year a bust of Gerhard will be placed in the Hall of Fame as part of the grand celebration of their famed educator and coach. Gerhard was inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999.

As for the 2026 Vikings, they’re coming off four consecutive Class 1 A state titles. Chris said good players were lost through graduation, but this year’s Vikings will be “formidable.”

The head coach is Chad Johnston. “He’s amazing. A wonderful man,” Chris said.

Johnston also led the Vikings to state titles in 2009, 2014, 2015 and 2017. “(Gerhard Meidt) was the guy that changed everything in Minneota football and it was his program,” Johnston told John Millea in a Minnesota State High School League story in December of 2022.

“There are shadows of what was done here before, and I think that’s what drives us,” Johnston said in the article. “And a lot of these kids have parents who have played in the Prep Bowl. That tradition means a lot to me, to be able to say that there has been no downslide in this program since the ‘80s. The kids have worked hard to keep us on the map and the credit goes to the kids, it really does.”

Gerhard, who won three Class C state titles at Minneota from 1986-88, had a head coaching record of 236-79 in 32 years at Rothsay, Minneota and Big Lake where he also coached after leaving the Vikings. He and wife Karen were married for 65 years and he was a proud father and grandparent.

He would be humbled and would no doubt deflect praise if present on September 18.

Skol!

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