Minnesota Vikings will be losing a dynamic player…..

The starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday has been decided.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell declared on Wednesday that Joshua Dobbs will receive another opportunity to start at center.

“We have a lot of faith in him,” O’Connell remarked. “He got off to a great start this week on Monday with some extra work out with the guys and getting going so looking forward to that.”

Following the Chicago Bears game on November 27, O’Connell hinted that a quarterback change might be on the horizon.In that game, Dobbs completed 22 of 32 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. It was the Vikings’ second straight loss and his worst performance of the year.

“Obviously I love the opportunity to start and compete and I plan on making the most of this opportunity and bouncing back from the last time on the field,” Dobbs stated.

“With Josh, it was more about what I could do to support him going forward. My conviction in him,” O’Connell remarked. It’s crucial, in my opinion, that Josh realizes that I believe in him. We’re not simply thinking, “Hey, you won us a couple games when we were shorthanded, and now we’re moving on,” concerning this. Josh ought to have the freedom to experience my belief, in my opinion. His teammates let me know that he senses it.”

“Our whole mentality coming out of this bye is about 60 minutes on Sunday, so I really took that mindset with our gameplan,” he stated.

After starting Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon in October, rookie Jaren Hall assumed the starting position. Before leaving the game with a concussion, Hall completed 5/6 for 78 yards in his first career start, putting the Vikings in position to score on their opening drive. When Dobbs took over, he performed well enough to maintain his starting position for the time being.

“Jaren Hall’s continued development is of the utmost importance to me personally and our organization and we really like where Jaren’s at, getting healthy, coming off of getting out of the protocol and being available,” said O’Connell.

The other quarterback on the roster that was being considered was Nick Mullens. Having backed up Cousins for the entire 2022 season, Mullens has the most experience in O’Connell’s offense. Among the group, he has also made the most NFL starts.

Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who hasn’t played since getting hurt during the team’s Oct. 8 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, will return, which will give Dobbs a boost.

Though the Vikings are 6-6 and firmly in the NFC playoff race, they are far from guaranteed a postseason spot with three division games remaining and several teams chasing them down. “Obviously JJ being out there, he’s an efficient and dynamic playmaker,” Dobbs said. “That changes having him in the lineup, but for me, I still go through my same process and trust the plans and trust the game that when the opportunities are there for him to get the ball, he’ll get it and go out and make a play.”