As they welcome All-Professional receiver Justin Jefferson again to their energetic roster, the Minnesota Vikings will spend the subsequent few days deciding which of their three quarterbacks is — amongst different issues — finest suited to maximise Jefferson’s expertise, coach Kevin O’Connell stated Tuesday.
Kirk Cousins was the Vikings’ starter when Jefferson initially injured his proper hamstring in Week 4. Since then, nonetheless, Cousins has suffered a season-ending Achilles harm, backup Nick Mullens has injured his decrease again and No. 3 quarterback Jaren Corridor has suffered a concussion. Newcomer Josh Dobbs has performed nearly all of the Vikings’ previous 4 video games, however after main them to victories in his first two, Dobbs has dedicated six turnovers in consecutive losses.
After Dobbs threw 4 interceptions Monday evening in a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears, O’Connell stated he would use the group’s upcoming bye to reevaluate his choices on the place. On Tuesday, he stated Jefferson’s return is “undoubtedly an element” of the dialogue he’ll have together with his teaching workers and the group’s entrance workplace earlier than selecting a starter for the Vikings’ Dec. 10 recreation on the Las Vegas Raiders. Each Mullens and Corridor are actually wholesome and have been in uniform Monday evening.
“Justin’s function in our offense, actually from Day 1 since we arrived right here, has all the time been very, very important,” O’Connell stated. “… Anytime you may infuse one of the best receiver in soccer again into your offense, there’s going to be methods to not solely get Justin going and ensure he has a important impression on the soccer recreation … [and] the quarterback place completely performs into that.
“We’ll ensure that whoever is taking part in quarterback is conscious and understands the intent behind performs the place both Justin is the first [target], or based mostly upon protection, based mostly upon the defensive look, methods to shortly and effectively get to the suitable place to go together with the soccer. In the long run that is what the NFL passing recreation is about: rhythm, timing, understanding that the protection can and can take some issues away, however progressing in rhythm.”
O’Connell famous that Mullens has lots of these attributes, given his 1½-year tenure within the Vikings’ offense, whereas additionally stating that Corridor “confirmed some actual positives” in a brief stint in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9 earlier than struggling his concussion. He stated that Dobbs’ contributions throughout that stretch of accidents “cannot be discounted.” Dobbs, nonetheless, has been “attempting to make up for lots of time on activity” that he missed whereas spending coaching camp with the Cleveland Browns and the primary half of the season with the Arizona Cardinals, O’Connell stated.
“There are nonetheless quite a lot of issues which can be new for him,” O’Connell stated, “and simply the margin of error, if you’re speaking in regards to the NFL move recreation, might be razor skinny typically. The distinction between conversions and possibilities for catch-and-runs versus potential turnover-worthy performs is such a small margin of error. That is what I am attempting to stability all through the sport, all through our preparation, to verify we do no matter we are able to to manage what we are able to to place our gamers in the very best scenario.
“If meaning molding and adapting greater than we have now, that is what we’ll check out doing. If meaning clearly attempting to combine and match and determine what’s finest personnel-wise, we’ll check out that as nicely.”
Vikings gamers have the remainder of the week off and can reconvene subsequent Monday after the bye. O’Connell stated Tuesday there was no timetable but for deciding on a starter, and he didn’t say whether or not he prefers to have somebody in place for the complete week of follow or will consider a number of choices earlier than deciding nearer to the day of the sport in opposition to the Raiders.
Jefferson was formally added to the 53-man roster Tuesday. Vast receiver N’Keal Harry was waived within the corresponding transfer.
