After a Week 15 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals, quarterback Nick Mullens has been sticking with the Minnesota Vikings despite what Kevin O’Connell labeled several “critical errors.”
Though rookie Jaren Hall looked good in a Week 9 start against the Atlanta Falcons, there have been concerns about why Hall has not been considered to start as Minnesota continues to run the Mullens-led offense into the final three games of the season.
Mullens is on a leash, since his turnover problems are a well-known aspect of his game, according to Darren Wolfson of KSTP, but the team is hesitant to give Hall the starting job.
According to Wolfson, there is hesitation to choose the rookie, as stated in the “Mackey and Judd” podcast on SKOR North. “They’re not ready to start Jaren Hall in the post as long as they can still make it.”
Drafted in the fifth round and signed to a four-year, $4.1 million deal, Hall was considered a developmental project following Mullens’ first season-long designation as Kirk Cousins’ backup. Before suffering a concussion and leaving the game against the Falcons, Hall completed five of six ball attempts for 78 yards, showing glimpses of his ability.
His performance has been sufficient to maintain his superior popularity over Josh Dobbs. On the depth chart, Hall is ranked as the second-best quarterback and would take over in the event that Mullens sustained an injury during a game.
In addition to serving as a backup plan, Hall may be considered if Mullens makes several mistakes this week in a crucial NFC North division game on December 24 against the Detroit Lions.
“If it’s multiple catastrophic mistakes on Sunday, I don’t know how you wouldn’t, in the moment, make the change,” Wolfson added.
There’s only so much you can prepare for until you’re hit in the mouth, and throughout Mullens’ career, he’s shown to make significant errors in the heat of the moment.
Mullens threw a pair of costly interceptions from inside the Bengals’ 25-yard line in the first half that effectively took points off the board. One interception, he tried to get rid of the ball as he was taken to the ground and threw it into the lap of Bengals defensive lineman B.J. Hill. The situational awareness to take the sack wasn’t there despite Mullens’ six years in the league.
“Just take the sack and kick the field goal,” Mullens said, reflecting on the play, per the Pioneer Press. “You already have points there, so take them.”
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