Vikings rookie minicamp featured veteran QB Cooper Rush unexpectedly showing up. His potential role on the roster remains uncertain as the team evaluates options for the future.
Key points
Vikings rookie minicamp featured Cooper Rush
Rush has NFL starting experience
His potential role on the roster is uncertain
Minnesota may consider him for future injuries
Mentioned in this story
Cooper Rush
Minnesota Vikings
Vikings Minicamp Features an Unexpected QB Twist
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Minnesota Vikings rookie minicamp got underway last week, and out of the blue, veteran quarterback Cooper Rush showed up in Eagan.
The Vikings’ latest minicamp name came with real NFL starting experience.
It is unclear where Rush might fit on the current roster if he parleyed the visit into a contract, but Minnesota may keep him on speed dial in 2026 if injuries rear their ugly head once again.
Rush Adds a Veteran Twist to Minnesota’s QB Possibilities
Cooper Rush throws a pass for the Ravens during a road game against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush throws against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sep. 28, 2025, during fourth-quarter action at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Rush spent years carving out a reputation as one of the NFL’s steadier reserve quarterbacks, earning trust from coaching staffs because of his experience, composure, and ability to operate offenses in relief situations. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images.
Q&A
Why did Cooper Rush attend the Vikings minicamp?
Cooper Rush attended the Vikings minicamp unexpectedly, possibly exploring a contract opportunity.
What is Cooper Rush's NFL experience?
Cooper Rush has real NFL starting experience, which could be valuable for the Vikings.
What might be Cooper Rush's role with the Vikings?
Rush's role is unclear, but he could be considered for a contract if needed due to injuries in the future.
When could the Vikings need Cooper Rush on their roster?
The Vikings may keep Rush on speed dial for the 2026 season if they face injury issues again.
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Rush in Eagan
There’s no contract yet, but Rush is in the Vikings’ orbit. NBC Sports‘ Mike Florio wrote, “Rookie minicamps routinely include more than rookies. In Minnesota, veteran quarterback Cooper Rush will participate on a tryout basis. The team has announced 57 attendees for the weekend session. Of that number, 23 have been invited to the weekend practices on a tryout basis.”
“Rush, 32, has played in 42 regular-season games with 16 starts. He has a 9-7 record. The Ravens cut him earlier this year, after making Tyler Huntley the primary backup to Lamar Jackson. Before that, Rush spent seven seasons with the Cowboys, starting eight games in 2024 and five in 2022.”
Rush infamously helped the Dallas Cowboys beat the Vikings in a 2021 game, so purple fans remembered the name on the spot.
The Career Biography
Rush has appeared in 42 games since 2017, starting 16. His teams have a 9-7 record on his watch, and he’s totaled 3,766 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in his career.
Cooper Rush prepares for a snap during a Cowboys game against the Commanders in Landover.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush lines up for a snap on Nov. 24, 2024, during a matchup against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover. Rush developed into a dependable backup option throughout his NFL career, routinely stepping into starting duties for stretches and helping stabilize offenses during injury-related absences at quarterback. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images.
Scaled exactly to a 17-game starter’s sample, Rush would produce this stat line, on average:
3,409 Passing Yards
19 Passing TDs
13 Interceptions
60.5% Completion Rate
His career-long EPA+CPOE suggests efficiency between Desmond Ridder and Joshua Dobbs. Here’s Rush’s NFL resume to date:
But last year, for example, Minnesota was forced to explore multiple veteran quarterbacks because of injuries to McCarthy and Wentz, including stints with the aforementioned Ridder and John Wolford. Inviting Rush to minicamp is likely a method to forge a relationship just in case injuries arise again.
For example, if the injury bug infects the club three or four passers deep, Rush can be the first guy the Vikings call on the free-agent wire or steal off another team’s practice squad.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said about Rush’s unexpected presence, “As I told Cooper, it’s almost like a free agent visit. He gets to know us, we get to know him. He’s played a lot of football over the years in the National Football League.”
“I think it can open up that world to him, or if there’s an opportunity in the future, he can make that a really positive situation for himself and become our first phone call.”
Cooper Rush throws the football during a preseason game between the Ravens and Cowboys in Arlington.
Cooper Rush throws a pass for the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 16, 2025, during preseason action at AT&T Stadium in Arlington against the Dallas Cowboys. Rush continued building his NFL resume through reliability and veteran experience, traits that frequently kept him in demand as a reserve quarterback capable of handling spot-start responsibilities when needed. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.
Our Kyle Joudry also noted over the weekend, “O’Connell has already seen quite a lot via quarterback injury (especially if we remember Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall all getting hurt in 2023). Not only has the response been to beef up the in-house quarterback options, but to establish a good line of communication with an external depth option should a need arise.”
Full List of Attendees
Here’s the full list of every rookie and veteran who attended Vikings’ rookie minicamp:
