The Minnesota Vikings are facing a quarterback dilemma after Joshua Dobbs threw four interceptions in a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell acknowledged that Dobbs is still getting comfortable in the offense and emphasized the need to make him as comfortable as possible.
Dobbs was forced into action in Week 9 after the Vikings acquired him in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals, and rookie Jaren Hall suffered a concussion. Veteran Nick Mullens, who was the No. 2 quarterback at the start of the season, was on injured reserve at the time.
Now, with Mullens back on the active roster and Hall cleared from concussion protocol, O’Connell stated that the team will evaluate the inventory of plays they have for Dobbs during the upcoming bye week.
Despite Dobbs’ struggles, O’Connell praised his resilience and determination, stating that he “battled, no flinch, and just kept playing and competing to try to help us win.”
Dobbs has committed a total of eight turnovers in his four games with Minnesota, contributing to the team’s struggles with turnovers all season. The Vikings rank near the bottom of the NFL in turnovers per game and turnover margin per game.
With Kirk Cousins sidelined due to an injury and Jaren Hall only able to play if both Dobbs and Mullens are injured, the Vikings face uncertainty at the quarterback position moving forward.
Dobbs acknowledged his frustration with his performance but expressed a determination to learn from his mistakes and improve. As for his future with the team, he stated, “Honestly, I think that’s a coaching decision. I just focus on myself. Focus on how I can help this team win.”
The Vikings will need to make a decision on their quarterback situation in the coming weeks as they look to turn their season around.