Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke with reporters Wednesday and defined why he is sticking with veteran Joshua Dobbs as his beginning quarterback for this Sunday’s sport on the 5-7 Las Vegas Raiders.
“Josh has continued consolation in our offense and the way we play,” O’Connell mentioned, per Nick Shook of the NFL’s web site. “Additionally, our offense and workers’s skill to evolve and assist Josh thrive is our plan. We’re very assured in him. He received off to an awesome begin this week, on Monday with some additional work with the fellows.”
Dobbs joined the Vikings forward of the commerce deadline after Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending torn Achilles on Oct. 29, and the 28-year-old was known as into motion lower than every week into his Minnesota tenure. Whereas Dobbs initially helped the Vikings win back-to-back video games, the membership misplaced his subsequent two begins to fall to 6-6 forward of its bye. Following a 12-10 defeat in opposition to the Chicago Bears on Nov. 27, O’Connell declined to commit to Dobbs as his starter over backup Nick Mullens.
“Nick Mullens will probably be able to go,” O’Connell insisted on Wednesday. “We’ll put together Nick like we all the time do.”
Throughout his first 4 video games with the Vikings, Dobbs accomplished 66.4% of 128 move makes an attempt for 832 yards with 5 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He additionally rushed for 142 yards and three scores with three misplaced fumbles over these 4 contests.
As famous by Kevin Seifert of ESPN, Dobbs ought to lastly get to throw passes to All-Professional broad receiver Justin Jefferson after Jefferson missed seven video games due to a proper hamstring harm.
“Getting Justin again will probably be a transparent optimistic for us and the way that appears like for the quarterback place,” O’Connell added. “It is a do-your-job mentality.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, the ESPN Soccer Energy Index gave the Vikings a 49.6% probability to make the playoffs. Minnesota could be the No. 6 seed within the NFC if the postseason started forward of Week 14.
