Vikings to start Mullens at QB against Bengals

Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff WriterDec 12, 2023, 04:30 PM ET
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EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have named quarterback Nick Mullens their starter for Saturday’s game at the Cincinnati Bengals, coach Kevin O’Connell said Tuesday.

Mullens, who entered the season as the Vikings’ No. 2 quarterback, will become the fourth different starter in a seven-game stretch for a team that is in strong position for an NFC wild-card playoff spot.

He was on injured reserve because of a back injury when Kirk Cousins ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Week 8, forcing rookie Jaren Hall to make one start and newcomer Joshua Dobbs to make four others. But Mullens had recovered enough for the Vikings to activate him in Week 11, and he led their only scoring drive Sunday after replacing Dobbs in the fourth quarter of a 3-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

“There’s a reason we went out and got Nick when we did: to really solidify that position,” O’Connell said. “Anytime you’re going out to try to find a quarterback that … when he’s one snap away can win you some football games, you look for certain traits. Nick has them all. 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.”

O’Connell said he had not yet decided whether Dobbs or Hall will be Mullens’ backup Saturday but added that both would be in uniform.

Mullens has made 17 NFL starts in four previous seasons, most recently in 2021 while with the Cleveland Browns. He spent most of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, where he started eight games in 2018 and eight more in 2020. His record in those starts is 5-12.

Mullens is scheduled to speak with reporters Wednesday.

Dobbs has been one of the league’s unique stories this season, having twice been traded — from the Cleveland Browns to the Arizona Cardinals in training camp, and then from the Cardinals to the Vikings on Oct. 31 — for teams who needed immediate help at the position. He replaced a concussed Hall five days after the Vikings acquired him, leading the team to an improbable 31-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Overall, the team won three of the five games he was involved in.

But Dobbs threw four interceptions in a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 12 and was unable to lead the Vikings to any points Sunday against the Raiders.

“Josh understands first and foremost that when we lost Kirk Cousins, we were a .500 football team,” O’Connell said, “and we’re now a game over .500, and Josh led us to three wins.

“I think Josh understands the process and where we’ve been at. I think he has respect for the opportunity he had and some of the really good things that he did. But … 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 hopeful that Mullens will have receiver Justin Jefferson (chest) with him on the field in Cincinnati. Jefferson was a limited participant in Tuesday’s walk-thru practice. But running back Alexander Mattison (ankle) and right tackle Brian O’Neill (ankle) did not participate.