Days later, head coach Kevin O’Connell met with media and publicly made it known that the Vikings wanted to bring Hall back on the practice squad, if he wanted to be in Minnesota. Turns out, that was a hint. He was looking for a fresh start.

Jaren Hall signs with Seattle Seahawks

On Monday afternoon, he found that fresh start all the way across the country, with the Seattle Seahawks. He will not be on their active roster, but the Seahawks practice squad is located much closer to Utah, where he grew up and went to college at Brigham Young University.

Seahawks signed former Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall to their practice squad.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 2, 2024

According to Darren Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North), the Vikings did indeed try to bring Hall back to the practice squad. Not only is Seattle closer to home, but he will be the clear No. 3 quarterback for the Seahawks, entering week one.

Jaren Hall went 28-of-46 (61%) for 339 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in the 2024 Minnesota Vikings preseason. Outside of a poor (but very short) appearance in week one, the 26-year-old proved himself worthy of a 53-man roster spot. Unfortunately, he’ll have to keep working to get it.

Good pocket presence by Jaren Hall here pic.twitter.com/dkOyV1bbGx

— DIE-HARD 🦅 REALTOR® (@Eaglesfans9) August 24, 2024

Minnesota Vikings opt for Brett Rypien

For the foreseeable future, Brett Rypien will be Minnesota’s QB3. How long will that be? Let’s just say that he probably shouldn’t get too comfortable. Kevin O’Connell doesn’t seem to have his name written into the depth chart with permanent ink.

Related: Vegas Believes in Vikings Rookie Dallas Turner

Reports surfaced nearly immediately after Rypien signed with the Vikings that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is still on the search for a secondary developmental QB.

In that report the aforementioned Darren Wolfson specifically mentioned Dorian Thompson-Robinson as a QB of interest. In other words, 3rd-string QB is far from being solved at TCO Performance Center.

If the Vikings defense beats up on Daniel Jones and Darnold looks competent, we’ll consider it revenge for the 2022 playoffs (maybe even 41-0 from the 2000 NFCCG too), and start buying up Super Bowl tickets in Las Vegas.

If the opposite happens, and the Vikings start 0-1, the calls for tanking will be loud and clear. Oh, and Sam Darnold will immediately be chalked up to the bust we always thought he was. As fans and media members begin shift their focus to the JJ McCarthy countdown clock.

There really is no inbetween, especially given the gauntlet three-week schedule Minnesota faces after the Giants (Niners, Texans, @ Packers). But in the week-plus time between now and next Sunday, the Vikings have made it clear they are not done tweaking their roster.

Minnesota Vikings still looking for roster upgrades… including QB

On Thursday, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah named Myles Gaskin as the team’s kick returner. He’s currently on the practice squad. It’s also been reported that the Vikings are not happy with Ed Ingram, at right guard, meaning they are still on the lookout for an upgrade there.

Oh, and earlier this week, less than 24 hours after solidifying the initial 53-man roster, Minnesota cut 2nd year quarterback Jaren Hall and signed former LA Rams QB Brett Rypien as their new QB3. At least, for now.

According to Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (SKOR North, KSTP), head coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t set on Rypien as Vikings QB3, either. Doogie is hearing that, over the next handful of weeks — as quarterbacks are shuffled around the league, due to injuries unforeseen circumstances, and we get closer to the in-season NFL trade deadline — that Minnesota will be on the prowl for more young QB talent.

“I don’t know if this is the end game, in terms of who the [Vikings] No. 3 quarterback will be… You think about last year, going through four quarterbacks, I suppose more trust in Brett Rypien, if it came down to that, this year, compared to Jaren Hall. I’m not overly surprised, but I just don’t know if this is the complete end game. Like, will Brett Rypien be on the roster seven to eight weeks from now, for example.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North)

Kevin O’Connell eyeing up Dorian Thompson-Robinson…?

And one guy that KOC may be particularly interested in, per Doogie, is Cleveland Browns project, Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Kevin Stefanski went with Jameis Winston, as the Browns QB2, behind Deshaun Watson. That could make Dorian available, for the right price.

“What about this name… Dorian Thompson-Robinson? So, Jameis Winston is in, in Cleveland. So reckless speculation, right? It is Reckless speculation Thursday. Here’s what I can tell you. The Vikings had all sorts of pre-draft interest last year, in Thompson-Robinson. Now, is he an upgrade over Nick Mullins, in this moment? We can certainly have that conversation.

That’s why I just don’t know. Considering Brett’s age, is he here 7, 8, 9, 10 weeks from now? I’m not convinced of that. Are they truly seeking a younger type guy, an upgrade over Jaren Hall. And I just wonder if Dorian Thompson Robinson is that guy. Heck, is Cleveland even willing to move him? That, I don’t know. But I’m just saying, here on this reckless speculation Thursday, that would be a name that I would monitor.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North)

Dorian Thompson-Robinson has eight total NFL games (three starts) worth of experience. His 54% completion and 1-to-4 TD/INT ratio do not shine a positive light on those snaps.

But while his NFL experience may not be notable, Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s talent is undeniable. He’s athletic, can move around, both in and outside the pocket, and he has a strong arm.

DORIAN THOMPSON-ROBINSON! 57-yard TD to Jamari Thrash!#DawgPound pic.twitter.com/NVmmbBXjQD

— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) August 25, 2024

Yes, it was incomplete but this throw by #Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson was insane.

The difficulty level of this throw, when you add in his body position while drifting backwards in combination with the defensive coverage is a solid 8.5 out of 10.

The fact that he was 6"… pic.twitter.com/Bw741Tu1af

— Matt Wilson (@CoachWilson66) August 25, 2024

Related: Vikings Still on the Prowl for Right Guard Upgrade

In 5 seasons at UCLA, he compiled 50 games, 10,700 passing and 88 touchdowns, to just 36 interceptions. His completion percentage was 69.3%, as a senior. Thompson-Robinson also ran for over 1,800 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns.

After an impressive showing in the Vikings’ final preseason game, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell chose to place him on the final roster, rather than risk sneaking him to the practice squad. Until now Thursday morning, when they cut him and signed a new quarterback.

Brett Rypien takes over Minnesota Vikings QB3 for Jaren Hall

Jaren Hall did not look good for the Minnesota Vikings against the Las Vegas Raiders. He quickly flushed that game and put up a perfect passer rating against the Cleveland Browns. Versus the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend, he was arguably even better. Not better than former Rams QB, Brett Rypien, though apparently…

Change at QB for the #Vikings: They’re signing Brett Rypien and waiving Jaren Hall.

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) August 29, 2024

Last season Rypien played with the Los Angeles Rams. Working as the backup to Matthew Stafford, Rypien got in a pair of games, with a single start. He is 2-2 across his four year career as a starter. Rypien owns a 4/9 TD/INT ratio. He went undrafted out of Boise State and is the nephew of Super Bowl champion Mark Rypien.

Related: Anonymous NFL Coaches + Execs Not Buying Sam Darnold Hype From Vikings

Rypien recently turned 28 years old and has been with both the Rams and Denver Broncos. He brings a bit more experience to the third quarterback spot, and O’Connell may have some insight on the passes from former colleague Sean McVay. More recently, Rypien was a member of the Chicago Bears during the 2024 preseason.

Brett Rypien with the beautiful deep ball to Tyler Scott 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sL5b8f1o1l

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) August 23, 2024

Vikings moving on from Hall?

Jaren Hall was an older prospect coming out of BYU. At 26 years old already, he could be close to a finished product from an athleticism standpoint. He was forced into action as a rookie after Kirk Cousins suffered an achilles injury. In three games, Hall completed 13-of-20 passes for 168 yards. He has yet to throw a touchdown but has an interception.

Jaren Hall this preseason for the #Vikings

28/46
339 yards
4 touchdowns
0 interceptions

Minnesota just waived him in favor of Brett Rypien and Nick Mullins
pic.twitter.com/ilJpoXlyRh

— Know Nonsense (@KnowNonsense_) August 29, 2024

I’d imagine the Vikings will try to get Jaren Hall onto their practice squad, which is currently full. Will he be claimed off waivers, before then? We’re about to find out.

Related: Multiple UDFA Rookies Survive Vikings Cut Day

He was already integrated in O’Connell’s system and showed signs of maturity during Minnesota’s two road contests. Should the Vikings be forced into starting Nick Mullens or Brett Rypien, their season is already in trouble. The same could have been said for Hall.

Jaren Hall has another big day vs Philadelphia Eagles

But it was 3rd string QB Jaren Hall who stole the show. That was especially true in the first half, where he absolutely lit up the Eagles defense for 128 yards and two touchdowns, on 13 of 16 passing. He finished the day 17-of-25 for 189 yards and those two first half TDs.

He looked calm, cool and collected, which is exactly how you’d hope a young, talented QB would, vs 3rd and 4th stringers. And that’s why it was so good to see. In his sophomore season, anything less would mean he probably isn’t worth keeping. He left a bit earlier than expected, due to a hard hit, but he seemed to be OK after.

Jaren Hall back-to-back games with multiple TD passes pic.twitter.com/u0NYCwp8v5

— Hunter Miller (@MillerHHunter) August 24, 2024

N'Keal Harry! Jaren Hall looks sharp so far. pic.twitter.com/XkGkkayuOk

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 24, 2024

After today’s performance, Jaren Hall finishes his preseason 28-of-46 (61%) for 339 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Outside of a poor (but very short) appearance in exhibition game one, the 26-year-old has proven himself as a young QB who is very much worth a spot 53-man roster spot.

No chance Minnesota Vikings can sneak Hall to their practice squad now

Entering the weekend, there was a lot of questions over whether or not Jaren Hall would make the Vikings final roster, which will be presented on Tuesday. Was there any way to sneak him onto the practice squad? Not anymore

Related: Vikings’ Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Looking to Add More Draft Capital?

Kevin O’Connell has invested a lot of time and effort into developing Hall. If he wants to get him on the practice squad, he’d have to cut him first. Obviously, that would allow another team to come swipe him from under KOC’s nose. If they want to keep Jaren in Minnesota, it’ll have to be via the 53-man roster.

Good pocket presence by Jaren Hall here pic.twitter.com/dkOyV1bbGx

— DIE-HARD 🦅 REALTOR® (@Eaglesfans9) August 24, 2024

Jaren Hall in 3 preseason games: 28-46-339-4-0.

Good preseason stats are better than the alternative.

More important: He remains on track to be the Vikings' No. 3 QB.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 24, 2024

Jaren Hall was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 5th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He walked into rookie camp and prepared early on as a depth piece whose only job on game days would be to hold a clipboard and learn behind Kirk Cousins and Nick Mullens.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Complete First Round of 2024 Roster Cuts

Remember, Jaren has regular season experience too

But that changed pretty quickly when Nick Mullens was put on injured reserve with a back injury. Suddenly, the Minnesota Vikings were one Kirk Cousins injury away from forcing their 5th round rookie out of BYU into action.

Hall made the final 53-man roster, and the beginning of his NFL career went as planned. Kirk played, Nick backed him up and Jaren was activated on Sundays as the emergency QB, meaning he didn’t have to count against the game day roster.

Sidenote: That rule is now changed, per Tom Pelissero (NFL Network), meaning there’s really no chance Jaren is left off the final roster now

Important note as teams construct their initial 53-man rosters:

NFL teams were informed that the NFLPA vetoed the revised Emergency 3rd Quarterback rule that would have allowed teams to elevate a bona fide QB from the practice squad an unlimited number of times.

So, the rule…

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 26, 2024

Then, as we all know, that’s exactly what happened. Cousins tore his ACL in week 8 vs Green Bay and it was Jaren Hall who was thrust under center. He played well, too. After going 3-of-4 for 23 yards to finish off the Packers, he went into Atlanta in week 9 and went 5-of-6 for 78 yards.

Related: Jaren Hall Still Has His 53-Man Doubters

Unfortunately, Jaren was smashed into concussion protocol by a goalline collision during his second drive vs the Falcons. That ended his bid as Minnesota’s QB1 just as quickly as it began. Hall got another chance in week 16. He finished his 2023 rookie season 13-for-20 for 168 yards, 0 TDs and 1 INT.

After how he performed in the final two preseason games, there is no chance Jaren Hall would make it through waivers. Teams in the NFL are desperate for young quarterbacks who have shown any sign of competency at this level. Not only did he play well during meaningless preseason games, but he has real NFL experience, too.

None of that matters, now that the latter has been formally ruled out for the rest of the 2024 season. But McCarthy’s injured reserve designation affects Kevin O’Connell’s decisions further down the depth chart than just QB, or even QB2.

Jaren Hall up against it for the Minnesota Vikings

Jaren Hall has a lock on the Minnesota Vikings QB3 spot. His lackluster performance against the Raiders started his preseason off on a bad foot, but he rebounded nicely against the Cleveland Browns.

Jaren Hall thew a dime for 6 🔥

📱: Stream #MINvsCLE on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ntg5DR4chf

— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2024

That performance won’t be enough to vault Hall over Nick Mullens for the Vikings’ QB2 role. That’s bad news for Jaren, because Kevin O’Connell doesn’t like to carry three quarterbacks on roster if he doesn’t have to.

The Vikings carried three quarterbacks last year. In 2022, they kept only two. Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens are locks, so this comes down to how Minnesota wants to proceed with Jaren Hall.

The Vikings staff values his maturity and drive. For more than a year now, he typically has been the last player out on the field after practice working with assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski.

Alec Lewis on Jaren Hall’s roster spot (The Athletic)

Kevin O’Connell carried three quarterbacks for the Vikings last season, after Kirk Cousins’ injury. Minnesota had just two on their active roster all of 2022. And now, there is a new rule in the NFL that a team’s practice squad QB can fill the QB3 role on game day, and not count against a team’s 53-man roster.

Vikings should just put him on the practice squad…

So, send Jaren to the practice squad, right? Problem solved. Well, not so fast. It’s possible Hall would make it through waivers unclaimed, but that’s far from a guarantee. Is that a move the Vikings can afford to risk?

The decision comes down to this: Do the Vikings value a third-string QB option steeped in the system more than they value a back-end roster option with upside at another premium position?

Could another team pounce on Hall? It’s possible. He is mobile, generally accurate and studied in an advanced system that is respected throughout the league. There is risk to cutting him, but the Vikings might be willing to absorb it.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

Related: Did Jaren Hall Take the Vikings QB2 Job from Nick Mullens on Saturday?

What if Darnold goes down and we are one injury away from needing QB3… and Jaren Hall is on another team? With McCarthy out, the Minnesota Vikings kind of need Jaren Hall on roster. The Vikings may decide that they are better served by utilizing an additional roster spot for a different position.

Minnesota Vikings could opt to replace Jaren Hall

Jaren Hall earning a roster spot isn’t the only quarterback question for the Minnesota Vikings. There is a possibility that O’Connell would prefer a more established veteran be ready behind Darnold.

Nick Mullens has already flopped for the Vikings, and a fresh face may be something worth exploring. Of course, Hall’s perfect performance against the Browns is a feather in his cap.

Related: Quarterback Options That Make Sense for the Minnesota Vikings

There are a couple of free agents that could overtake either Hall or Mullens on Minnesota’s depth chart. A trade right before the regular season kicks off isn’t exactly out of the question either. It’d be best if the Vikings didn’t make the deal former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum suggested, but that’s another issue altogether.

Realistically Hall must prove he is roster worthy not only based on what the Vikings have internally, but also considering what could be acquired to unseat him.

Does Jaren Hall do enough for the Minnesota Vikings?

Sam Darnold will start for the Minnesota Vikings. It is possible that doesn’t remain the case throughout the season. Short of balling out in the best situation of his career, the odds of greatness aren’t high. Kevin O’Connell must decide who is going to be his backup for 2024. Nick Mullens is the presumed favorite, but second-year quarterback Jaren Hall looked sharp on Saturday.

Jaren Hall thew a dime for 6 🔥

📱: Stream #MINvsCLE on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ntg5DR4chf

— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2024

After a rather lackluster showing against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first preseason game, Hall pulled a 180 against the Cleveland Browns. Although Hall threw just five passes, the Vikings quarterback completed four of them and found the end zone twice. His 87 yards resulted in a 17.4 avg.

Related: Sam Darnold Struggles at Vikings’ Night Practice

Mullens took the bulk of the snaps, but he completed just 11 of his 21 attempts. The veteran did turn in a touchdown with 135 yards. Mullens took three sacks for a total loss of 22 yards.

Is Jaren Hall capable of Minnesota Vikings backup job?

When Kirk Cousins went down with an achilles injury, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback situation went off the rails. Jaren Hall was thrust into action before he was ready and that showed. His level of development didn’t look great to start the preseason, but he was impressive over the weekend. It seems unlikely that Minnesota will roster both Nick Mullens and Hall, but who gets the boot?

Matt Corral first drop back for the Vikings 🚀 pic.twitter.com/dhWbE1UZFp

— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) August 17, 2024

Matt Corral signed this week and took just a few snaps for Minnesota. His safety was ugly against the Browns, and he doesn’t seem likely to be a realistic roster option for O’Connell. Should Hall secure a spot behind Darnold, it still seems plausible that Minnesota will aim higher. Minnesota may opt to sign another veteran signal caller as security behind their starter.

Expectations understandably are not high for the Vikings this year. They drop even further if Hall (or Mullens) must be relied upon in any substantial capacity. For now though, it’s hard to suggest that Hall’s stock isn’t trending upwards.

Related: Quarterback Options That Make Sense for the Minnesota Vikings

With McCarthy out for the year, O’Connell can get additional development time for the 2023 quarterback. Hall has a golden opportunity in front of him.

Josh Dobbs named Minnesota Vikings backup QB vs Lions

Not only will Nick Mullens get another opportunity as the starter but Kevin O’Connell announced on Friday that Josh Dobbs will return to the active roster as Mullens’ backup. Jaren Hall, who started for the Vikings last week, will move from the QB1 down to the emergency-only QB3.

What a season.

Head Coach Kevin O’Connell announces that Joshua Dobbs will serve as the backup to Nick Mullens on Sunday.

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 5, 2024

I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. After Josh Dobbs lost the starting job weeks ago, he was immediately demoted to QB3, as well. I guess, after seeing Hall last week, the Vikings have decided they’ll be better off in a pinch, going with the veteran Dobbs.

Not only that, but they’ve probably decided it’s better for Jaren Hall’s development that he not see the field again until next football season (probably longer).

Read all of our Minnesota Vikings articles

Related: Minnesota Vikings name rookie Jaren Hall starting QB for Sunday night

It may not be Hall’s first NFL start, but the stakes tonight are on another level compared to his very brief time as Vikings starter in week 9 vs the Falcons. That day in Atlanta, head coach Kevin O’Connell had no choice but to start his 5th round rookie, out of BYU.

They did not have another QB on roster who knew the playbook. Kirk Cousins’ real backup, Nick Mullens, was hurt. And their only other healthy quarterback was Josh Dobbs, who had just been acquired via trade a few days earlier.

Different reality for Jaren Hall in week 17

Back then, Jaren Hall was only supposed to be on roster to learn and get better at practice. He was a late-round stab in the dark 2023 draft pick with some upside. He was the emergency practice squad QB for the team whos starter was Ironman Kirk Cousins, who never gets hurt, remember?

In week 9 of the 2023 season, the last thing the Vikings expected was Jaren Hall as their QB1. Is it hypothetically possible that, had Jaren played out of his mind vs the Falcons and in the games that followed, O’Connell would’ve been forced to promote him, at least for the remainder of this season? Sure, anything is possible.

But in most realistic scenarios, Josh Dobbs was always going to get his chance at QB1. And even in a world where he doesn’t, Nick Mullens was eventually going to return from injury. No matter what had happened that day in Atlanta, Jaren Hall wasn’t going to have much of a chance to keep the starting job going forward.

On Sunday night, however, the 25-year-old Hall has a much different opportunity on his hands. Since Jaren left that contest in Atlanta, the Vikings have gone on a horrifyingly exciting roller-coaster ride without him.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell has already experimented with Josh Dobbs and Nick Mullens. Both have been subsequently eliminated from the equation. As long as Jaren makes the throws and reads any average NFL QB is expected to and doesn’t turn the ball over like a cheap Brett Favre, he will get another start next week.

Related: Why Kevin O’Connell Had No Choice but to Start Jaren Hall at QB

And if the rookie can lead Minnesota to two-straight wins in weeks 17 and 18, there’s a coin-flip chance he will be a playoff quarterback in the NFL. But let’s hit pause for one second. Is that something this fanbase should let themselves entertain? I mean, what can we really expect out of a 5th round rookie?

What can Minnesota Vikings fans expect out of Hall?

Well, if you had faith in Josh Dobbs and/or Nick Mullens, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t have that faith in Jaren Hall. Unlike Dobbs, he knows the playbook and proved in his two appearances earlier this season that he can go through reads and make requisite throws needed to move Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

How does the Vikings coaching staff look at this drive that Jaren Hall put together against the Falcons and not see if he can do it again?? He CANNOT be worse than Mullens or Dobbs man. #Skol pic.twitter.com/H4xHvn2I9s

— PJ (@PandemicJones) December 24, 2023

Oh, you have turnover PTSD from Nick Mullens? I can’t blame you, nor can I guarantee Sunday’s rookie starter won’t fumble or throw any interceptions. But a quick look into Hall’s statistics at BYU will put your mind at ease.

Mullens has always been a ‘gunslinger’ type. He wants to be Brett Favre, he just doesn’t have the talent. In his college career at Southern Mississippi, Nick Mullens threw over one interception (46) for every two touchdowns (87).

In his two years as starter at BYU, Jaren Hall threw nearly five touchdowns (52) for every one (11) interception. In his final year at BYU, he threw for over 3100 yards, 31 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions. This is why so many wanted a look at Hall, including O’Connell, instead of sticking with Nick Mullens or going back to Josh Dobbs.

Even though he is a 5th-round pick, he should still theoretically be better than Dobbs at finding open Vikings receivers and worse than Nick Mullens at finding open defenders.

Jaren Hall (aka The Mormon Missle) BYU Highlights pic.twitter.com/Do5OYn1s88

— Purple FTW! Podcast (@PurpleForTheWin) October 31, 2023

Kevin O’Connell sure to test Hall’s arm

Another factor to keep in mind is Kevin O’Connell’s play calling. No matter who the QB is, KOC has proven that he is going to put the ball in the hands of his quarterback and let him win or lose them the game. He believes in his system and believes that, if you are an NFL caliber QB, you should be able to run it competently.

So I’m trying to keep my expectations down… but the more I think about the game tonight, the more I’m convinced it could be a Jaren Hall coming out party. The Green Bay secondary is worse than some of the secondaries Hall faced while at BYU, at this point, especially after they suspended Jaire Alexander and we know O’Connell is going to test out his arm like no other playcaller would their day-3 rookie quarterback.

So, if you expect that Hall will hit open receivers more often than not, and keep the ball out of the Green Bay’s hands better than Nick Mullens did… then 300 yards and 2 or 3 touchdowns seems pretty realistic to me. What New Years week that would make…

And head coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Thursday that, in week 17 on Sunday Night Football vs the Green Bay Packers, it’s Jaren Hall’s turn to take another shot at the job.

Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has announced that Jaren Hall will start for the #Vikings Sunday night. pic.twitter.com/YQ2zrpMxkx

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 28, 2023

Kevin O’Connell had no choice but to turn to Jaren Hall at QB

Why Hall? Ultimately, the Vikings don’t have a choice. Dobbs provided a spark but we’ve already seen his limitations throwing the football and going through reads, neither of which make a Kevin O’Connell offense look very good.

Related: Russell Wilson as Next Vikings Quarterback…?

And Mullens, on the other hand, can’t stop throwing the football to the wrong team; something frowned upon in the NFL, believe it or not.

Consider this: Mullens leads the NFL with the highest interception rate among all QBs who have attempted 25 or more passes this season, which isn’t exactly the category you want to lead the NFL in.

How bad is it? Mullens has thrown an interception on 7.3% of his pass attempts this season. Compare that to Cousins (1.6%) or Dobbs (3.3%), and it’s easy to see that the Vikings really had no choice but to try something different, yet again.

Hall’s first run as starter was short lived

If you tuned out a bit early in week 8 vs the Packers and tuned in a bit late to week 9 vs the Atlanta Falcons, it’s very possible you’ve missed Hall’s time under center for the Vikings this season. It’s easy to forget that he was actually the first Vikings backup QB tasked with replacing Kirk Cousins, following #8’s season-ending Achilles injury.

The rookie 5th rounder out of BYU QB’d the Vikings for a few drives late in that game vs Green Bay and got the start vs Atlanta. And guess what… he looked pretty damn good.

How does the Vikings coaching staff look at this drive that Jaren Hall put together against the Falcons and not see if he can do it again?? He CANNOT be worse than Mullens or Dobbs man. #Skol pic.twitter.com/H4xHvn2I9s

— PJ (@PandemicJones) December 24, 2023

But Hall’s time in the purple and gold captain’s chair didn’t last long. Just two drives into that first start vs Falcons, Hall left the game with a concussion. So, this is his first opportunity in two months back under center.

How we got [back] here

Since Jaren Hall exited that contest, Vikings fans have ridden quite the QB rollercoaster. We saw the ‘Passtronaut’ Joshua Dobbs blast off into stardom… just to fall back down to earth as quickly as he took off.

In week 12 vs the Bears, Dobbs threw 4 interceptions and the Vikings lost 12-10. After taking the bye week to evaluate the QB position, coach Kevin O’Connell wanted to give the Passtronaut a chance to learn from and overcome his mistakes.

That plan backfired in Las Vegas the week after their bye. Dobbs couldn’t move the offense, finishing with only 63 yards passing and a completion rate of just 43%.

Breaking:

Josh Dobbs has been benched for Nick Mullens pic.twitter.com/g3QG2gBFQU

— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) December 10, 2023

With the score still 0-0 in the 4th quarter, KOC went to veteran journeyman gunslinger Nick Mullens who ended up throwing for 83 yards in three drives and managed to push the Vikings into field goal range for the Greg Joseph dagger that carried them to an ugly 3-0 victory.

After playing hero in Vegas, the starting QB job was Mullens’ to lose. With the Southern Miss alum under center, Minnesota’s offense actually returned to something resembling a high-powered passing attack.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Playoff Odds – Week 17

But quickly, we realized that Nick Mullens is a Brett Favre (same college) without the talent, which became apparent when he started firing interceptions whenever he got an opportunity. Four interceptions and a loss vs the Detroit Lions in week 16, and suddenly, we are back full circle to Jaren Hall.

Great opportunity for Jaren Hall

This time around, Hall will get a chance to play with Minnesota’s top weapon, Justin Jefferson, who has already expressed confidence in the fifth-round rookie.

“I feel like Jaren is definitely a great quarterback. He has definitely some potential to spark this offense up if we put him out there to play. But we’ll have confidence in whoever.”

Justin Jefferson on Jaren Hall

Now, the only question is, can an extremely inexperienced QB like Hall look like a more polished pro than his veteran peers? There will be over 70,000 passionate football fans packed into U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday who can’t wait to find out.

But no matter if he sinks or swims, KOC made the only correct choice this weekend at starting quarterback.

Related: Russell Wilson as Next Vikings Quarterback…?

Minnesota Vikings may bench QB Nick Mullens, start Jaren Hall

When you’re a replacement QB who throws six total interceptions in two-straight losses, your job and NFL career are probably in jeopardy. And, according to Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk.com), that’s the case for Nick Mullens too. Florio reports that the Vikings are “taking a long look” at replacing Mullens with rookie, Jaren Hall.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Vikings are taking a long look at whether Mullens should be benched for rookie Jaren Hall.

Mike Florio – ProFootballTalk.com

If O’Connell makes the move (again) at quarterback, he’d be throwing his 5th round rookie QB into quite a fire. Not only are the hated rival Green Bay Packers coming to U.S. Bank Stadium this weekend.

Both teams have 7-8 records so the loser of this week 17 matchup can give up on any remaining postseason hopes and, instead, start planning their offseason vacations. No pressure…

Related: Minnesota Vikings Playoff Odds – Week 17

Jaren Hall’s first attempt at starting quarterback

If the job on Sunday night is indeed passed to Hall, it wouldn’t be his first start. Back in week 10 vs the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings were forced into starting the youngster out of BYU, after Kirk Cousins went down with a torn achilles.

At that time, Josh Dobbs was the only other healthy QB on roster and he had only been on the team for a few days, after being acquired via trade with the Arizona Cardinals. Hall’s tenure as starting QB only lasted two drives, though. The first ended in a 3-and-out. But in his second attempt, Hall led the offense down on an impressive drive that ended in a score.

Related: Justin Jefferson Talks About How Much Vikings Miss Kirk Cousins

Unfortunately, the score was only a field goal, after Jaren was stopped short of the goal line trying to scramble into the end zone. The real disappointment came at the end of that tackle, when the back of Jaren’s head smashed into the turf, concussing the 25-year-old and ending his time as Minnesota’s QB1.

Kevin O’Connell has a press conference scheduled for 2:00 PM. I’d guess this topic will be on the agenda.