This is the fifth quarterback change since Kirk Cousins was lost for the season when his Achilles snapped on the spongy Lambeau turf in Week 8.
Week 9: @ Atlanta Falcons
-Jaren Hall - left game with a concussion on the second possession
-Josh Dobbs - saved the game
Week 10: New Orleans Saints
-Josh Dobbs
Week 11: @ Denver Broncos
-Josh Dobbs
Week 12: Chicago Bears
-Josh Dobbs
Week 13: Bye
Week 14: @ Las Vegas Raiders
-Josh Dobbs
-Nick Mullens - relieved Dobbs in the fourth quarter and did enough to pull out a 3-0 win
Week 15: @ Cincinnati Bengals
-Nick Mullens
Week 16: Detroit Lions
-Nick Mullens
Week 17: Green Bay Packers
-Jaren Hall
-Nick Mullens - relieved at the half
Week 18: @ Detroit Lions
-Nick Mullens
The Vikings are 3-5 since the injury to Cousins. There’s never a good time for a team to lose their franchise quarterback. When that Achilles tendon snapped on the spongy Lambeau turf, it was very bad timing. Mullens was rehabbing his back injury. The Vikings were without Cousins and his backup. Fifth-round rookie Jaren Hall was the only quarterback on the roster. The situation forced the Vikings to acquire Josh Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals at the trade deadline. When he relieved Hall on a handful of practices and pulled out an improbable win against the Falcons, it felt like something special was happening. Dobbs played well in a win over the Saints. Suddenly and surprisingly, the Vikings were 2-0 without Cousins and 6-4 for the season. Then it all fell apart under a thundering number of turnovers.
Dobbs kept giving the ball to the other team. Mullens replaced him. Mullens kept giving the ball to the other team. Hall replaced him. Hall looked overwhelmed against the Packers and kept giving the ball to the other team. Mullens replaced him.
Now, here we are.
Since the nice and surprising start to life without Cousins, it’s been a quarterbacking nightmare. The Vikings are 1-5 since the wins against the Falcons and Saints. Dobbs brought some exciting plays and thrilling moments. Other than the first half against the Saints there was never much offensive consistency. When he wasn’t giving the ball to the other team, Mullens consistently moved the offense. He was acquired last year and re-signed this year to back up Cousins and was probably the best option all along. Unfortunately, he wasn’t an option immediately after Cousins was lost for the season. The unfortunate quarterback situation became a revolving door. If Dobbs was benched for repeatedly giving the ball to the other team, Mullens had to be benched for doing the same. O’Connell made difficult quarterbacking decisions. Despite some exhilarating plays (Dobbs) and scattered offensive efficiency (Mullens), he had no good options. Turnovers are killers.
Nick Mullens gets one more chance.
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