The Minnesota Vikings are rolling the dice and going with rookie quarterback Jaren Hall as the starter against the Green Bay Packers on New Year’s Eve.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic reported the news via X on Thursday, December 28, after several days of uncertainty under center in Minneapolis.
The Vikings are naming QB Jaren Hall as their starter Sunday against the Packers.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) December 28, 2023
“The Vikings are naming QB Jaren Hall as their starter Sunday against the Packers,” Lewis wrote.
Hall has started just one game this season, which came in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. He completed 5-of-6 passes for 78 yards and rushed the football twice for 11 yards before suffering a concussion late in the first quarter that knocked him out for the remainder of the contest.
Josh Dobbs replaced Hall and went on to start the next several games after leading the Vikings to a comeback victory. Head coach Kevin O’Connell replaced Dobbs with Nick Mullens in the fourth quarter of the team’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders on December 10, then started Mullens in each of the next two weeks.
However, Mullens threw four interceptions in a home loss to the Detroit Lions last weekend after throwing two picks in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals the week before, which ultimately led to the team’s decision to revert back to Hall as the starter on Thursday.
The Vikings (7-8) must defeat the Packers in Minnesota’s final home contest of the season Sunday in order to remain viable in the NFC playoff race.
Kevin O’Connell Notes Turnovers as Reason to Replace Nick Mullens with Jaren Hall
O’Connell noted turnovers as the primary reason for replacing Mullens with Hall when speaking to media members on Thursday afternoon.
“We have to maintain possession of the football,” O’Connell said. “The turnover margin has been well-talked about all season long and I just felt like at this time, giving Jaren a full week of preparation and a clear-cut mindset on the game plan [was the right move].”
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert offered his take following his attendance at O’Connell’s press conference Thursday.
OPINION: For the second time this season, the Vikings are starting Jaren Hall because they have no alternative. In Atlanta, Nick Mullens was hurt and Josh Dobbs had been there 5 days. Now, Dobbs can’t move the team and Mullens can’t stop throwing picks. Have to try something.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 28, 2023
“OPINION: For the second time this season, the Vikings are starting Jaren Hall because they have no alternative,” Seifert posted to X. “In Atlanta, Nick Mullens was hurt and Josh Dobbs had been there 5 days. Now, Dobbs can’t move the team and Mullens can’t stop throwing picks. Have to try something.”
Jaren Hall Vows to Better Protect Himself in 2nd Start for Vikings
Hall talked on Thursday about how he will approach the game against Green Bay’s defense after his reckless abandon, which while admirable in some ways, cut short his debut in Atlanta and robbed him of another chance to play for two months.
“There’s a lot of big dudes out there. A lot of fast dudes, and you’ve got to learn to play within the system and play the right way to avoid stuff like that happening to the best of your ability,” Hall said. “It’s definitely something I’ve noted and hope to be better at.”
Hall will face a Packers defense down cornerback Jaire Alexander, who Green Bay suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team. The Vikings are currently 1-point favorites against the Packers, per Draft Kings Sportsbook.
