The imagination of rookie quarterback Max Brosmer has been on full display early in his career with the Vikings. It’s not uncommon to see him going through the motions — literally — as a way to log mental reps while the rest of the team is on the practice field.

Whether he’s been watching young quarterback J.J. McCarthy or veteran Carson Wentz work with the starters, Brosmer has made the most of his time by mimicking their every movement as if he were actually under center himself.

He has gone as far as calling the play in a fake huddle, making checks at a fake line of scrimmage, taking a fake snap, and going through a fake drop-back.

“That’s something I’ve really strived to do to the best of my ability,” Brosmer said. “Just making sure I take intentional mental reps as much as possible.”

This is a new development for Brosmer. He credited assistant quarterbacks coach Jordan Traylor with helping him establish the routine during practice.

Asked if any part of of him felt awkward when he was doing it for the first time, Brosmer offered a perfect rebuttal, saying he’d feel more awkward standing on the sideline doing nothing.

“There are only a few guys on every single team that play quarterback in the NFL,” Brosmer said. “If I’m not taking those intentional mental reps, then I don’t deserve to be here. (It’s) just finding ways to have fun with it. That’s been my way of doing it.”

The attention surrounding Brosmer’s process has increased this week as he moved up the depth chart in the wake of McCarthy suffering a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s 22-6 loss to Atlanta. The injury meant Brosmer was suddenly the backup as Wentz stepped in as the starter.

Though he’s closer to making his NFL debut than ever before, Brosmer was adamant this week that he won’t change anything about the way he prepares.

“The mindset I’ve taken is to continue to attack every single day and prepare like I’m the starter,” Brosmer said. “I know if I’m doing that, then it doesn’t matter if I’m one snap away or two snaps away.”

As much as Brosmer has focused on his own development, he also has taken his role of running the scout team team seriously as he helps the Vikings prepare for Sunday’s noon kickoff against the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“I’m trying to be very professional about servicing the defense while also making sure I’m getting better myself and putting myself in situations to succeed,” Brosmer said. “Just practicing being the guy when I’m not the guy, and I think if I’m really intentional about (believing) it will come naturally when I am the guy.”

As puts in work behind the scenes, Brosmer said he hopes his actions have helped him build trust with his teammates.

“If my time is called, it’s like, ‘This guy has been putting the work in,’ ” Brosmer said. “It’s not like, ‘This guy has been goofing around during practice.’ ”

Even when McCarthy is back as the starter, and he reassumes his original spot on the depth chart, Brosmer said he will continue to operate the same.

“I’ll keep preparing for when my time comes,” he said. “Whenever that is, I’ll be ready for it.”

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