Nearly three hours into a scoreless struggle with the Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell made the call to bench quarterback Josh Dobbs.
The journeyman veteran who won over the hearts of the Vikings fan base and the locker room by winning his first two games couldn’t shake off a recent slump coming out of the bye week. He completed 10 of 23 passes for 63 yards and was sacked five times.
Dobbs was pulled in the fourth quarter, thrusting Nick Mullens into the game for the Vikings’ final two drives. Mullens helped Minnesota escape Las Vegas with a 3-0 victory, but O’Connell was noncommittal to any quarterback after the game.
He said it was a difficult decision to bench Dobbs and would “take a look” at the quarterback position — a similar phrase he used when considering a quarterback change over the bye week.
“I want to communicate and be honest and I just said, ‘I want to give Nick a chance to get in there,’ ” O’Connell said, recalling his talk with Dobbs. “Nick has a great feel for our offense and when I could call up for him and communicate, he went out here and executed.”
The decision was the right move as the Vikings (7-6) avoided disaster and held onto an NFC Wild Card spot. Minnesota has a 56% chance of making the postseason with Sunday’s win, according to The Upshot’s playoff simulator.
Justin Jefferson Avoids Injury Complications, Travels Home With Team
GettyVikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson‘s first game back since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 5 was short-lived on Sunday.
The star wide receiver reeled in his second catch of the game but took a vicious hit from Raiders safety Marcus Epps in the process.
Jefferson went to the locker room and was rushed to a Las Vegas-area hospital with what was declared a chest injury.
O’Connell clarified in his postgame news conference that Jefferson was cleared of any concern that would restrict him from traveling home with the team.
Jefferson is considered questionable on a short week ahead of a Saturday night matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Vikings Injuries Continue to Toll
GettyVikings left tackle Brian O’Neill exited a Week 14 matchup with a left ankle injury.
The Vikings offense suffered a string of injuries on Sunday, depleting the team’s effectiveness.
Right guard Ed Ingram was already ruled out before the game the right tackle Brian O’Neill suffered a left ankle sprain in the second quarter and did not return to the game. Guard Dalton Risner also left the field for several snaps but returned to action. David Quessenberry took over for O’Neill, while Blake Brandel got the start in place of Ingram.
Starting running back Alexander Mattison suffered a right ankle sprain in the second half and did not return. Ty Chandler took over lead back duties, while Kene Nwangwu and C.J. Ham provided some relief in the running game.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor is in concussion protocol after Sunday’s game. He’s unlikely to clear protocol in time for next week’s game.
Injuries have continued to toll as the Vikings have six players who started the season on the 53-man roster currently on the injured reserve list: quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Cam Akers, swing tackle Oli Udoh, edge rusher Marcus Davenport, defensive tackle Dean Lowry and linebacker Jordan Hicks.
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Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has hinted at reducing Jones' workload and using trade acquisition Jordan Mason as part of a "1A/1B backfield structure", ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports. O'Connell specifically mentioned goal-line and short-yardage situations as areas where Mason can help, noting that the Vikings "left a lot to be desired" in those situations last year. Jones returns as the starter after signing a two-year, $20 million contract, but it sounds like he's a long shot to match last season's career highs for snaps (700), rush attempts (255) and touches (306). The only disappointment in 2024 was scoring three times on 24 carries inside the 10-yard line, with just seven total TDs (five rushing) despite playing all 17 games and recording 1,546 yards from scrimmage (his most since 2019) at rates of 4.5 yards per carry and 8.0 per catch. While ceding goal-line carries is never a good thing for fantasy value, Mason's physical presence could help the 30-year-old Jones to stay healthy and maintain his strong per-touch yardage production.
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has hinted at reducing Jones' workload and using trade acquisition Jordan Mason as part of a "1A/1B backfield structure", ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports. O'Connell specifically mentioned goal-line and short-yardage situations as areas where Mason can help, noting that the Vikings "left a lot to be desired" in those situations last year. Jones returns as the starter after signing a two-year, $20 million contract, but it sounds like he's a long shot to match last season's career highs for snaps (700), rush attempts (255) and touches (306). The only disappointment in 2024 was scoring three times on 24 carries inside the 10-yard line, with just seven total TDs (five rushing) despite playing all 17 games and recording 1,546 yards from scrimmage (his most since 2019) at rates of 4.5 yards per carry and 8.0 per catch. While ceding goal-line carries is never a good thing for fantasy value, Mason's physical presence could help the 30-year-old Jones to stay healthy and maintain his strong per-touch yardage production.
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell expects Mason (ankle) to "bring something to the table" in goal-line and short-yardage situations, ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert reports. O'Connell also discussed returning starter Aaron Jones, saying "when [Jones] has... that 1A/1B backfield structure, he can be a total game-changer every time he touches the ball." In other words, O'Connell hopes the 223-pound Mason can be 1B, taking carries between the tackles while Jones gets most of the work in space. The Vikings traded for Mason in mid-March, shortly after San Francisco gave him a second-round restricted free agent tender (and after Minnesota re-signed Jones on a two-year, $20 million contract). Mason missed the final five weeks of his 2024 breakout season with a high-ankle injury, but there hasn't been any report of surgery or a prolonged rehab process this offseason.
The Vikings signed Moore (knee) on Wednesday. Moore missed the entire 2024 season with a non-contact knee injury he suffered in a joint practice with the Dolphins last August. He was a second-round pick by the Cardinals in 2021 and appeared in 39 games for the team across three seasons, catching 135 passes for 1,201 yards and three touchdowns. In Minnesota, Moore will look to compete with Jalen Nailor for a depth job behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
The Vikings have rejected multiple trade calls on McCarthy (knee) this offseason and aren't pursuing Aaron Rodgers in free agency, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Minnesota is still expected to sign a veteran quarterback after losing Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens last week, but it won't be someone that represents a serious threat to take the starting job from McCarthy. The 10th overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft appeared be pressing Darnold for the starting gig last summer after throwing for 188 yards and two touchdowns in his preseason debut, only to be diagnosed with a torn meniscus a few days later. McCarthy had season-ending surgery in mid-August and didn't resume on-field work until the winter, but he should be back to full strength well before training camp. It isn't yet clear if he'll have any limitations during spring practices.
Minnesota will sign Jones from free agency, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports. Jones has spent the past four seasons in Jacksonville, but now he'll get a fresh start with a new squad. He's coming off a 2024 season that saw him haul in three of his five targets for 41 yards over 17 games. He also contributed as a kick returner, and he could slot in as a regular special-teams contributor in 2025.
Okudah agreed to a one-year deal with the Vikings on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The 26-year-old corner will head to his fourth team in as many years, hoping to rejuvenate his career after suffering a hip injury last season that held him out nine games. Okudah joins a retooled Minnesota secondary -- while the club managed to retain Byron Murphy on a massive deal, it otherwise lost Shaquill Griffin, Stephon Gilmore and Fabian Moreau to the open market. Okudah has only appeared in 49 percent of his teams' regular-season games through his first five seasons.
The 49ers traded Mason (ankle) to the Vikings on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The 49ers placed a second-round tender worth $5.3 million on Mason when free agency began, but he'll now be shipped out along with the No. 187 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft in exchange for the No. 160 pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick, per David Lombardi of SFStandard.com. Mason will receive a two-year contract with the Vikings that's worth up to $12 million and includes $7 million guaranteed. Mason served as the 49ers' starting running back for the first half of the 2024 regular season due to Christian McCaffrey being sidelined with Achilles injuries. Through the first eight games of the regular season, Mason rushed for 685 yards and three touchdowns on 134 carries while adding 10 catches (on 12 targets) for 86 yards, though he missed the final five games due to a high-ankle sprain. Ty Chandler was slated to be the Vikings' backup running back, but Mason's addition is an upgrade to the backfield led by Aaron Jones, who agreed to a two-year contract with Minneosta on March 9.
The Vikings signed Wilson to a contract Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Wilson started 12 of his 17 regular-season appearances with Green Bay in 2024, recording 72 tackles (38 solo), including 2.0 sacks, two pass breakups, including one interception, and one forced fumble. The veteran linebacker now stands to play a key rotational role in Minnesota's interior-linebacker corps. He began his career with the Vikings, playing with the team from 2017-20.
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Vikings Coach Sends Josh Dobbs Strong Message After Benching