Vikings reveal starting QB for Week 16

Mullens started in Week 15 in the direction of the Bengals after taking over from Josh Dobbs midway by means of the sooner sport. The switch bought right here as little shock given the latter’s struggles after a surprisingly spectacular first few contests in Minnesota, and the earlier’s standing as Kirk Cousins‘ backup to begin the yr. Mullens missed time because of a once more injury that coincided with Cousins’ Achilles tear, nevertheless he’s now in place to finish the advertising marketing campaign atop the depth chart.

“The most important issue is Nick confirmed he can execute our offense and really switch the soccer workers,” O’Connell said, via Fowler’s colleague Kevin Seifert. “I really feel what we’ve acquired to proceed to work by means of are these performs the place we don’t try and do an extreme quantity of.”

O’Connell stopped in want of naming Mullens the starter for the rest of the season, so a game-to-game methodology will keep in place within the interim. The 28-year-old threw for 303 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 26-of-33 passing inside the Vikings’ loss to the Bengals, nevertheless he moreover had a pair of interceptions. Mullens was stopped on a key fourth-and-one in extra time, which organize Cincinnati’s game-winning topic objective. Whereas there’s room for enchancment, Mullens could have the possibility to rebound in Week 16.

The Vikings are set to play the Lions for the first of two conferences inside the final three weeks of the season, and profitable in the direction of the NFC North leaders could be important to Minnesota’s playoff possibilities. The Vikings sit at 7-7 on the yr, inserting them in rivalry for a wild-card berth. With wideout Justin Jefferson once more inside the lineup, the workers’s offense would possibly ship sturdy showings inside the passing sport with Mullens on the helm down the stretch.

The earlier UDFA is beneath contract by means of 2024, making his future far more certain than that of Cousins. The latter is able to hit free firm this offseason, though the Vikings are open to a unique new contract with the four-time Skilled Bowler. It doesn’t matter what happens on that entrance, Mullens would possibly earn the No. 2 job shifting forward (a spot rookie Jaren Hall could be competing for) with a strong displaying in his short-term interval as a starter.