Josh Dobbs has lost his starting job with the Minnesota Vikings heading into Week 15, and he will not serve as the team’s primary backup, either.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced earlier in the week that Nick Mullens will start against the Cincinnati Bengals.
On Thursday, O’Connell told reporters that rookie Jaren Hall is going to back up Mullens, leaving Dobbs as Minnesota’s emergency third quarterback.
Vikings’ HC Kevin O’Connell announced that rookie QB Jaren Hall will back up Nick Mullens on Saturday and Joshua Dobbs will serve as the emergency third QB.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 14, 2023
Minnesota acquired Dobbs in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals leading up to Week 9.
Hall started that week against the Atlanta Falcons, but he suffered a concussion early in the game.
Just days after joining the Vikings, Dobbs went 20/30 for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns while leading the team to an incredible comeback win over Atlanta.
Dobbs had another outstanding game in a 27-19 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 10.
With the way Dobbs played in Arizona and in his first two games with the Vikings, there was talk that he could be in line for a big pay day this offseason.
While DeVito has taken the world by storm in his rise from third-string quarterback to the Giants’ starter, Dobbs has instead been demoted from being the Vikings’ starter to the team’s third-string quarterback Saturday against the Bengals, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell.
The #Vikings are making rookie Jaren Hall the new backup to Nick Mullens, so Josh Dobbs is now the third-string quarterback pic.twitter.com/QnSevxV67T
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 14, 2023
Rookie quarterback Jaren Hall will instead backup Nick Mullens, who replaced Dobbs in the Vikings’ 3-0 win over the Raiders last Sunday.
Dobbs served admirably as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback before being benched, and the Vikings then acquired him to replace Kirk Cousins.
With the Vikings’ offense stuck in neutral, O’Connell benched Dobbs for Mullens.
O’Connell announced Tuesday that Mullens would start against the Bengals on Saturday in a matchup of 7-6 playoff hopefuls.
“I do believe that Nick Mullens gives us the best chance to win the football game this Saturday, and that’s the decision we made.”
The Vikings are the No. 6 seed in the NFC but have just a one-game lead over the Packers, Rams, Seahawks, Falcons and Saints in a jumbled playoff picture.
What has been a dramatic climb for Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs appears to be finally collapsing around these feet this week.
After he was acquired by Minnesota, Dobbs has managed to win three of five games as the team continues to fight for a playoff spot.
Effective Thursday, Minnesota will officially downgrade Dobbs to the third string as quarterback Jaren Hall will immediately rise to the post of backup quarterback behind career backup Nick Mullens.
Over the course of the season, Dobbs has a combined record 4-9 as he also went 1-7 as the quarterback for the tanking Arizona Cardinals and improved to 3-2 as the Vikings starter.
While he has made a solid string of appearances with teams missing their starting quarterback in the past two seasons including Tennessee, Arizona and now Minnesota, Dobbs failed to make a good impression on the Minnesota faithful.
So far this season, Dobbs sports a quarterback rating of 76.4 (qualifying for 28th best in the NFL) in his combined stints in Arizona and Minnesota.
Considering he played extraordinarily well with Arizona in big games including a resounding victory over the Dallas Cowboys, that is a poultry value for a full-time quarterback as he has regressed over the past few weeks.
It stands to be seen whether this is a tactic by O’Connell to demonstrate the importance of the remaining four games to his journeyman quarterback.
It also is important to note that Wilson responded well to the maneuver as he was the offensive player of the week this past week with his resounding win over the Houston Texans.
The Vikings will look to close out the season against the Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers and two games against the division leading Detroit Lions.
Although a rough string of offensive form, the Vikings are still the 6th overall seed (second wildcard) in the NFC and have a good opportunity to win the division crown as they trail the Lions by two games.
Fans were disappointed, to say the least.
That’s pretty disrespectful.
He won you guys games.
At least let him warm the bench as number two.— Garett Nelson (@garettnelson) December 14, 2023
This is ridiculous. Dobbs helped safe the season for the Vikings. He's worthy of more respect.
— EvilMattCanada (@TheMattCanada) December 14, 2023
Joshua Dobbs in his first 3 games with @Vikings:
6.7 yards/throw
4 Touchdowns
1 Interception
66% Completion %
94.4 QBRJoshua Dobbs in his last 2
4.2 yards/throw
1 Touchdown
4 Interceptions
56% Completion %
53.0 QBR#Vikings— Allegheny Andy (@CityOf_6) December 14, 2023
a hard fall from grace
— 𐌕𐌄𐌄🤞🏼 (@HimmyCarter_) December 14, 2023
What a fall from grace for our boy Dobbs
— Annoying Pudgy Guy (@annoyinpudgyguy) December 14, 2023
He served us well when we needed him
— The Biceptual Barista – John (@JohnDunsmore8) December 14, 2023
Hall out, Dobbs in. Vikings QB carousel continues. Good luck, Raiders.
— Random Bullshit Go!!!! (@eliteseniordev) December 14, 2023
