The Josh Dobbs era of Minnesota Viking football may have just come to a close. With a whimper.
After a lackluster, 3-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Viking coach Kevin O'Connell appears to be ready to move on to Nick Mullens under center. Mullens entered the game Sunday midway through the fourth quarter with the score tied at zero. Mullens was able to lead the Vikings into field goal range and they hung on to win the first 3-0 game in the NFL since 2007 and the second in Viking history.
Mullens would be the Vikings fourth starting QB this season joining injured starter Kirk Cousins, rookie Jaren Hall who played less than a quarter in a start in Atlanta, and Dobbs.
On Sunday, Dobbs completed just 10 of 23 passes for 63 yards in three-plus quarters. Two weeks ago, he threw four interceptions in the loss at home to Chicago leading to speculation Mullens would get the start in Las Vegas, but O'Connell wanted to give Dobbs another chance.
Instead it'll be the 28-year old Mullens who went 9 for 13 for 83 Sunday. Mullens is in his sixth year in the league. Mullens signed with San Francisco as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss. He signed with the Vikings prior to the 2022 season as Cousins' backup. Saturday would be his first start for Minnesota.
Dobbs burst onto the scene after leading the Vikings to a come-from-behind victory in Atlanta, five days after he came to Minnesota in a trade with Arizona. Dobbs played very well in a win over New Orleans and pretty well in a loss at Denver. But he regressed tremendously in the games against Chicago and Las Vegas.
The Vikings are at Cincinnati where they'll take on a former teammate, Jake Browning. Browning is playing for injured starter Joe Burrow who is out the rest of the season with an injured wrist.
Minnesota is 7-6 and firmly in the playoff race in the NFC. They are still close enough to catch Detroit for the NFC North and are currently in the second Wild Card spot. After the Bengals, the Vikings host the Lions and Packers before ending the year in Detroit.