Matt Cassel is staying in Minnesota.
According to reports Friday night, the veteran quarterback will sign a two-year contract to remain with the Vikings.
On Feb. 7, Cassel opted out of his two-year deal with the Vikings, exercising a clause that allowed him to void the deal within five days of the Super Bowl. But the two sides expressed mutual interest in keeping him in Minnesota and worked out a deal before he became a free agent.
Cassel came to Minnesota last season from the Kansas City Chiefs to be a backup to Vikings starter Christian Ponder. But he took over the job in September after Ponder was injured during a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in London.
The 31-year-old Cassel started six games and played in nine last season, leading the Vikings in passing yards with 1,807 yards and throwing for 11 touchdowns with nine interceptions despite playing in three fewer games than Ponder. Cassel’s best performance was a 382-yard passing day in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 15.
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The Vikings used Cassel, Ponder and Josh Freeman, acquired during the 2013 season from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as starters last year. The team struggled to a 5-10-1 record but was 3-3 with Cassel as the starter. He also came off the bench to help the Vikings to two other victories.
Under the terms of the previous contract, Cassel was due to make $3.7 million with the Vikings in 2014.
With Cassel back in the fold, the Vikings have Cassel and Ponder under contract for next season.
