They did it in 2016, after Teddy Bridgewater suffered a season-ending knee injury in late August. They did it in 2023, after Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.

They’re doing it today, in order to avoid having the season end at 6-11.

According to ESPNFL, the Vikings have begun making calls regarding a possible trade for a quarterback.

Of course they’re making calls. Coach Kevin O’Connell made that fairly clear last night. The real question is whether they can get a deal done.

They’re not operating from a position of strength, especially after a horrendous showing from Carson Wentz, whose passer rating against Buffalo was 8.9. The greater a team’s perceived need, the more the other team will want.

The Vikings’ best hope is to stumble into a situation where multiple teams are looking to unload a starter. By persuading one team that the Vikings will strike a deal with another team, the price could come down.

There aren’t many current starters who would even possibly be available. Two of them — Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins and Colts quarterback Daniel Jones — have experience in Minnesota. Others include, potentially, Jets quarterback Geno Smith and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

Backups could be available. Mac Jones had been linked to Minnesota in the past. The 49ers would have to feel comfortable with the alternative to Mac Jones as the understudy to Brock Purdy. If a team trades its No. 2, it assumes the risk that the starter will get injured in the very next game.

That happened to the Steelers in 2019. They traded Josh Dobbs to the Jaguars after Nick Foles was injured in Week 1. In Week 2, the Steelers lost Ben Roethlisberger for the year. Then came the Duck Hodges show.

At this point, it’s fair to wonder whether a quarterback upgrade will even matter for the Vikings. The flaws in the offense may run deeper than the quarterback position.

Still, it’s obvious that they need someone who can perform more efficiently than Kyler Murray or Carson Wentz, who in all fairness should be cut today.

And if the Vikings can’t upgrade at quarterback, they need to listen to offers for receiver Justin Jefferson. His prime is being wasted, and he surely would love to move on (even if he’d never say that out loud).

The last-ditch effort could be to sign Jimmy Garoppolo, who would likely be an instant upgrade to the very low bar that Minnesota’s current quarterbacks have established.