Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell doesn't commit to keeping Josh Dobbs as starter
Josh Dobbs was a Vikings darling until Monday night. Now, after a loss to the lowly Bears, Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell won’t commit to keeping the quarterback on the first team.
That’s what happens when you throw four interceptions on the night the Vikings, the home team, lost 12-10. A reporter asked O’Connell specifically about whether he plans on changing quarterbacks or keeping Dobbs where he is.
“We’re going to take a look, you know, really evaluate the inventory of plays now we have of Josh,” O’Connell told reporters after the game.“
It’s not like the Vikings have a ton of options. Kirk Cousins is out for the season after tearing his Achilles last month. Former BYU star Jaren Hall, a rookie, still is available. The Cardinals traded Dobbs on Oct. 31. Although Dobbs didn’t start the next Sunday, he did come off the bench in relief of Hall, who’d suffered a concussion, and helped the Vikings to a victory.
The Vikings also have Nick Mullens, who served as Cousins’ backup. Mullens had been on injured reserve, but he’s healthy now. O’Connell mentioned both Mullens and Hall as options if he moves away from Dobbs.
Not all of the four interceptions were Dobbs’ fault. But he’s the quarterback and the quarterback receives the blame. Dobbs became only the second NFL quarterback to throw four picks in a game. Washington’s Sam Howell is the other. And then with the Vikings not scoring a touchdown until until the fourth quarter, you can see why there is concern.
Dobbs has committed eight turnovers, three fumbles and five interceptions, in his four games in Minnesota. The Vikings rank 31st out of 32 teams with two turnovers per game.
“I acknowledge [the interceptions], man,” Dobbs told reporters. “I’m frustrated with myself because it starts with me. I’ll be better from it. I’ll learn from every single one of them tonight, and we’ll use it to build momentum into the next opportunity.”
O’Connell conceded that he thought about pulling Dobbs during the game. Ultimately, he didn’t do so. Dobbs did lead the Vikings to the fourth-quarter touchdown. But on his final drive, Dobbs and the Vikings suffered through a three-and-out.
Does he believe he’ll be benched?
“Honestly, I think that’s a coaching decision, but, no I don’t,” Dobbs said. “I just focus on myself, focus on how I can help this team win, focus on how I can be a better teammate, a better quarterback and focus on how I can make sure the offense is in the right play based on the scenario to go out and execute and play at a high level.”