Looking for a spark after scoring just three points against the Las Vegas Raiders last week, the Minnesota Vikings are making a switch at the quarterback position. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Tuesday that veteran Nick Mullens will step in as the starter instead of journeyman Joshua Dobbs.
After losing Kirk Cousins to a season-ending injury, the Vikings handed their offense to rookie Jaren Hall in Week 9 before Dobbs stepped in Week 10. Dobbs played great in his first two games but then threw four interceptions in a 10-12 loss to the Chicago Bears and mightily struggled against the Raiders.
Dobbs was benched late in the Raiders’ game with Mullens taking over and leading the team’s only scoring drive that was enough to help them get a 3-0 win.
“There’s a reason we went out and got Nick when we did: to really solidify that position,” O’Connell said about the QB change. “I love everything about his preparation. He allows us to go prepare with a plan and doesn’t need a whole lot of reps to then go in and execute that plan.”
Nick Mullens entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss in 2017. He spent the first four years of his pro career with the San Francisco 49ers before making stops with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and Las Vegas Raiders.
The Vikings acquired Millens in a trade with the Raiders in 2022 and locked him to a two-year extension during the offseason. The 28-year-old has 5,168 career passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions.
