Minnesota Vikings have released Jaren Hall and signed new quarterback on a substantial deal.

The Minnesota Vikings chose to keep three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, and there were doubts about Jaren Hall’s spot on the team. Once it became clear he wouldn’t make the practice squad, his position seemed secure—until now.

Jaren Hall struggled in the Vikings’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders but bounced back with a perfect passer rating against the Cleveland Browns and performed well against the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite these efforts, coach Kevin O’Connell decided to go with Brett Rypien instead of keeping Hall.

Rypien, who played as Matthew Stafford’s backup with the Los Angeles Rams last season, has also spent time with the Denver Broncos. At 28 years old, he brings more experience to the backup role and may benefit from O’Connell’s knowledge of Rypien from their time together with the Rams. Rypien’s preseason stint with the Chicago Bears also contributed to his selection.

Jaren Hall, an older prospect from BYU at 26, had limited action as a rookie due to Kirk Cousins’ Achilles injury. In three games, he completed 13 of 20 passes for 168 yards, without a touchdown and with one interception.

Although Hall showed promise in his final preseason games, the Vikings’ decision to move on from their 2023 rookie pick is surprising. Hall was already familiar with O’Connell’s system and displayed growth during Minnesota’s road games. If the Vikings need to rely on Nick Mullens or Brett Rypien, it may indicate a challenging season ahead.