Vikings sign former Broncos backup quarterback

The Minnesota Vikings have signed quarterback Brett Rypien and waived Jaren Hall, the team announced Thursday.

Minnesota used a fifth-round pick to select Hall in last year’s NFL draft out of BYU. He might be a candidate to return on the practice squad.

Rypien is now set to serve as the team’s third-string quarterback behind starter Sam Darnold and primary backup Nick Mullens. J.J. McCarthy, the team’s first-round pick in April, will miss the 2024 season with a knee injury.

Rypien, 28, joined the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Boise State following the 2019 NFL draft. He spent four years in Denver, mostly on the practice squad. Rypien was called on to start three times when the Broncos had injuries at quarterback and he went 2-1 as a starter.

He competed with the Chicago Bears this summer (and impressed in the Hall of Fame Game) but was cut this week when Chicago went down to a 53-man roster. Rypien will now get a new opportunity with the Vikings.

Another former Broncos backup quarterback, Ben DiNucci, was cut by the Buffalo Bills earlier this week. DiNucci, 27, remains a free agent.