The Vikings have removed themselves from the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes.
NFL Network reported Wednesday that Minnesota is “not pursuing” the four-time league MVP “at this time” and intends to move forward with quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the team’s 10th overall pick last year who missed his rookie season while recovering from knee surgery.
The quarterback-needy Giants and Steelers are still pursuing Rodgers, who was released by the Jets this offseason after two unremarkable years.
The former Packer hoped to sign with Green Bay’s division rival, The Athletic reported last week, noting the call would ultimately lie with head coach Kevin O’Connell.
O’Connell, the reigning Coach of the Year, is coming off a 14-3 season that saw Sam Darnold play the best football of his career.
The ex-Jet departed for the Seahawks in free agency on a three-year, $100.5 million deal. Daniel Jones also left Minnesota for a one-year, $14 million contract with the Colts.
The Vikings, who “rejected multiple trade calls” on McCarthy, 22, want to add depth with a veteran signal-caller as a backup to the former Michigan product, according to NFL Network.
Rodgers does not fit that profile.
With the Vikings moving on, perhaps a Rodgers resolution is coming soon.
The quarterback dominos in free agency have continued to fall even as the Giants and Steelers remain in limbo.
The Steelers saw quarterback Justin Fields leave for the Jets on a two-year, $40 million deal while Russell Wilson visited the Browns and Giants.
Jameis Winston and Joe Flacco are among the other free-agent quarterbacks New York has hosted in recent weeks.
The Steelers have since re-signed longtime backup Mason Rudolph, who spent the last year with the Titans.
Rodgers is coming off a 17-game season in which he completed 63 percent of his passes and threw 28 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.