McLeod Bethel-Thompson, whom the Vikings jettisoned last year in the failed Josh Freeman experiment, returned Wednesday to a vastly different quarterback landscape in Minnesota.

Starter Matt Cassel’s season is finished after breaking his left foot in Sunday’s loss to New Orleans. The Vikings needed a third quarterback to back up Teddy Bridgewater and Christian Ponder, so they turned to their former third-stringer.

Bethel-Thompson spent half of last year and 2012 with the team. He has yet to appear in an NFL game following stints with San Francisco, Miami and New England, which signed him to its practice squad this summer.

“I’m just gonna sling it as long as they let me, keep improving as a player,” he said Wednesday. “I’m still waiting for my opportunity. It may come eventually, or it may not at all.”

The Vikings have a completely different offense under Norv Turner from the one under which Bethel-Thompson worked during his previous tenure.

“He’s got a big arm. I think he’s a smart guy and has good quickness getting back, set up, and making quick decisions,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “He’s another guy to look at.”

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