Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Friday that Josh Dobbs will be the team’s backup quarterback for Sunday’s regular season finale against Detroit.
O’Connell named Nick Mullens the starter earlier in the week after rookie Jaren Hall was given the start against Green Bay. Dobbs has been listed as the Vikings’ third-string emergency QB for the past three weeks since Mullens replaced him as the team’s quarterback.
The quick demotion down of Hall to third string from starter is for “long term development” purposes, said O’Connell.
“A lot of things going into but just the idea that the third guy cannot go into the game unless there has been an injury to the first two guys. I didn’t think it was fair to Jaren to possibly have him in a situation where unless he’s injured he can’t come out of the game,” O’Connell said.
The second-year head coach was quick to note he still had “confidence” in the rookie quarterback’s development and that they will use his half-game against the Packers as a “long term learning [opportunity].”
Minnesota have been in a quarterback carousel since Kirk Cousins’ season-ending Achilles injury in Week 8 against the Packers.
Jaren Hall was initially given the start the following week in Atlanta but suffered a concussion just two drives in to the game. Josh Dobbs, who was acquired via trade the Tuesday before the game, came in as a replacement and led the team to miraculous 31-28 win.
Dobbs followed that up with another successful performance in a win against the Saints before stumbling to two consecutive losses in which he threw five interceptions and fumbled three times.
Mullens replaced Dobbs late in the team’s 3-0 win over the Raiders, leading the lone scoring drive of the game. O’Connell then handed starting duties to Mullens, who proceeded to throw four touchdowns and six interceptions in the following two games, both losses.
Hall was then handed the starting role against Green Bay but looked lost throughout the first half of a blowout 33-10 loss Sunday.
Now with just a 3% chance of making the playoffs Mullens will lead the Vikings offense in the season finale Sunday against the NFC North champion Detroit Lions.
