Josh Dobbs has thrown five interceptions and lost three of six fumbles in four games since being traded to Minnesota. But on Wednesday he was awarded another chance as head coach Kevin O’Connell named him the starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“The conversation was smooth and open. I’ll keep everything that we talked about pretty in house, but the conversation was open from the second the game ended last week to this moment here on Wednesday,” Dobbs said Monday about being told he’s still the starter.
“I plan on making the most of this opportunity and bouncing back from the last time on the field. The communication’s been open, so I’m excited for another opportunity to go out and compete, put my best foot forward and give this team a chance to win on Sunday.”
Turnovers have killed the Vikings all season – 24 turnovers (14 fumbles, 10 interceptions) is tied with Cleveland for the most in the NFL – so if Dobbs can’t eliminate the mistakes, the Vikings may have to eliminate him from the game.
That could mean a short leash with veteran backup Nick Mullens, who also has had a knack for turning the ball over in his career, waits on the sidelines. O’Connell said after the Week 12 loss to the Bears on Monday night that he nearly benched Dobbs for Mullens.
Dobbs said he spent parts of the bye week meeting one-on-one with O’Connell to watch film and better familiarize himself with the playbook, but he said there won’t be major changes to the calls Sunday in Vegas.
“No, I mean, it’s just tweaks. I think you can always over-speculate based on a previous performance, both good and bad. There’s no reason to blow it up,” Dobbs said. “We just gotta do what we’re good at, protect the football and make the routine plays when they’re out there and if we do that when we’re out there we’ll play good football. It’s very simple.”
Easier said than done?
Add in the eight games Dobbs played for Arizona before being traded to the Vikings and he’s totaled 10 interceptions and seven lost fumbles in 12 games this season.
One thing that could help immensely is the return of Justin Jefferson, who is back at practice and will play Sunday for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury two months ago.
“Obviously J.J. being out there he’s an efficient and dynamic playmaker. That changes with having him in the lineup,” said Dobbs. “But for me I gotta go through my same process and trust the plans and trust the game that when the opportunities are there for him to get the ball he’ll get it, he’ll go out and make a play.
“When the opportunity ends up for the ball to go somewhere else, those guys, who have been making plays throughout the time and stepping up into those bigger roles, they’ll make the play. It’s great to have J.J. back and we’re getting up to speed as quickly as possible so we can hit the ground running on Sunday.”
Jefferson or not, it’s on Dobbs to take care of the ball.
“For me, you still gotta play good, clean, efficient football,” Dobbs continued. “You can’t go forcing balls because obviously teams are going to have a plan for Justin Jefferson out there, so we still gotta play good football. When the plays are there, I know he’ll make them and I know he’ll make big plays for us.”
