Vikings bench quarterback Nick Mullen starting Jaren Hall, a rookie
Coach Kevin O’Connell said on Thursday that rookie Jaren Hall will start Sunday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers. This will be the team’s fourth starting change since Kirk Cousins suffered a right Achilles tendon tear in Week 8.
Nick Mullens, who finished 0-2 after throwing for 714 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions in a wild two games as Minnesota’s starter, will be replaced by Hall. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Vikings now have a 19.8% chance to secure a postseason berth after the losses moved them to the fringe of the NFC playoff picture. The Vikings are tied for the second-most turnovers in the NFL with thirty turnovers.
O’Connell stated, “We have to keep the football in our hands.” “The turnover margin has been discussed extensively during the season, and at this point, I thought it was better to give Jaren a full week to prepare and a clear understanding of the game plan.
“I’m eager to see what Jaren can do in the end.”
Hall was Cousins’ backup at the time of his season-ending injury. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. In Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons, Hall made one start but left the game in the first quarter due to a concussion.
After Cousins’ injury, the Vikings traded for Joshua Dobbs, whom they obtained from the Arizona Cardinals. Dobbs started the team’s next four games before Mullens, who had been the team’s No. 2 quarterback going into the season but sustained a back injury in October, took over.
In his brief stint against the Falcons, Hall completed five of six passes for 78 yards and scrambled twice for 11 yards, giving the Vikings hope.
As he battled for more yardage on his second carry, which resulted in the concussion, Hall stated on Thursday that he will be more conscious of the force with which NFL players hit.
He remarked, “There are a lot of huge guys out there.” “There are a lot of quick guys, so you have to play the system and play smart to the best of your abilities to prevent something like that from happening. I’ve definitely taken notice of that and intend to improve.
“You must acknowledge how quickly guys play. It’s important to choose when to use your legs wisely and to get down. You are not required to play the superhero ball. You simply need to keep in mind that the game is won over the course of four quarters, not just one play.”
Before the choice was made, Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson voiced confidence in Hall’s progress since his first start earlier this week.
“I think he has been doing an excellent job picking things up and adjusting to being a rookie,” Jefferson remarked. “Just dealing with the injuries has been a difficult year… Jaren is undoubtedly a fantastic quarterback, in my opinion. If we play him, he clearly has the ability to ignite this offence, but we’ll have faith in whoever plays.”
On Sunday night, Mullens will be the Vikings’ backup quarterback, according to O’Connell. Mullens recorded six interceptions, plus one that was overturned due to a penalty. It was decided not to attempt an eighth interception. He fumbled twice as well, but both were recovered by the Vikings.
