The Chicago Bears may have cut Brett Rypien, but he quickly found a new opportunity within the NFC North. According to the transaction wire for August 29, the Minnesota Vikings have signed Rypien to their 53-man roster as their new third-string quarterback, releasing Jaren Hall—a 2023 fifth-round pick—in the process.
Rypien joined the Bears in March and competed during training camp for a backup role behind No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Despite a strong showing, completing 24 of 34 passes for 335 yards and 3 touchdowns in four preseason games, Rypien was released as the Bears opted to keep undrafted rookie Austin Reed on the practice squad.
Now, Rypien will provide depth for the Vikings behind starting quarterback Sam Darnold. With veteran Nick Mullens also in the mix, the Vikings are missing No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy, who will miss the entire 2024 season due to a torn right meniscus suffered in the preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Bears’ decision to keep Reed over Rypien was not entirely unexpected, as the team initially decided to carry only two quarterbacks, with Williams and Tyson Bagent securing the top spots. Despite Rypien’s strong preseason performance and command of the offense, the Bears preferred Reed for their practice squad role. Reed also had a solid preseason, completing 12 16 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Bagent’s growth earned him the top backup job behind Williams. The Bears’ choice not to add a veteran backup showed their confidence in Bagent, who impressed with his performance and development during the offseason.
