The Minnesota Vikings made their move at the NFL trade deadline, acquiring quarterback Josh Dobbs in a pick swap with the Arizona Cardinals.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday, October 31, that Minnesota is trading for Dobbs “with plenty of starting experience. It helps make up for the loss of Kirk Cousins. And gives MIN a chance…”
The Vikings will send a sixth-round pick in exchange for Dobbs and a seventh-rounder, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson.
The trade comes in the wake of Cardinals coach Jonathon Gannon benching Dobbs with the prospect of Kyler Murray returning from injury in Week 9. Minnesota is seeking an answer at quarterback after Cousins went down with a likely season-ending Achilles injury in Week 8.
Arizona has started the season 1-7 with Dobbs, a 2017 fourth-round pick, under center.
He’s completed 62.8% of his passes for 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions so far this season. After throwing 5 interceptions in his first four games, Dobbs hasn’t thrown a pick in 100 pass attempts.
Dobbs also pieced together an impressive 28-16 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, completing 17-of-21 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown while averaging a season-high 9.0 yards per attempt. It was the first win of his career.
Vikings rookie quarterback Jaren Hall is the only quarterback on the active roster and is assumed to start in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons while Dobbs gets up to speed on the playbook.
The #Vikings are trading for #AZCardinals QB Josh Dobbs, with plenty of starting experience, per me and @TomPelissero.
It helps make up for the loss of Kirk Cousins. And gives MIN a chance…
Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Addresses Trade for Josh Dobbs
GettyVikings coach Kevin O’Connell during the team’s 2023 season opener.
Speaking to local media on October 31, on the afternoon of the Dobbs trade, head coach Kevin O’Connell addressed the hectic 48 hours that have followed Cousins’ injury.
Though he offered Dobbs praise, he did not declare Dobbs to be the immediate starter for the team, saying the trade was a measure to solidify depth in the quarterback room, which was “most important at this time.”
“Josh gives us an experienced player who’s started some games this year but last has played some good football against some of the best defenses in our league and found a way to move the ball. Brings a level of athleticism to go along with great football intelligence,” O’Connell said in an October 31 news conference. “Smart player. Have always loved his makeup and what he’s all about. He’s played in a variety of different offenses, and I know he’s excited to get going here.”
O’Connell added that Nick Mullens, who is available to return from the injured reserve list after this week, is a short-term designation to the list, but it is not clear when he will be reactivated to the roster.
Vikings Full Steam Ahead on Jaren Hall
GettyQuarterback Jaren Hall of the Minnesota Vikings passes in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals in a 2023 preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
Before Dobbs can acclimate to the offense, Hall was given a vote of confidence from O’Connell approaching the rookie quarterback’s first career start. O’Connell gave no indication that Dobbs would take over as the starter.
“I think it’s important for [Hall] to understand there’s really no reason to have a 3,000-foot view of ‘What does this mean? What does this mean to my long-term career?’ This is about playing one snap at a time and doing your job and making sure you effectively run our offense,” O’Connell said.
“It’s on us as coaches to put together a plan that gives him an opportunity to do that. If we go about things the right way, there will be tremendous opportunity for growth on a play-to-play, drive-to-drive and hopefully game-to-game basis. That will allow us to watch Jaren grow before our very eyes.”
Approaching a matchup with the Falcons, Hall will be tasked with extending a two-game winning streak by a Vikings (4-4) team that has clawed its way back to a .500 record after an 0-3 start to the season.
“I think he’s physically capable. I think he’s mentally capable. I think he’s made up of the right stuff. I love the way he’s attacked whatever role he’s been in throughout the season. This is the time, when you do all these things you do, when nobody is really counting on you or thinking you’re potentially going be on the field, all those lonely honors, lonely moments where he’s with the coaches, grinding on some extra work here, this is where you see the benefit of that, and I’m excited to see how Jaren goes about the week and performs on Sunday,” O’Connell said.
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Vikings Trade for Polarizing Cardinals QB to Replace Kirk Cousins: Report