Kevin O’Connell names Nick Mullens Vikings’ starting QB vs Bengals after Kirk Cousins’ season-ending injury

The Minnesota Vikings started a tumultuous season with Kirk Cousins. The quarterback, who started the first eight matches, was regularly getting involved in trade rumors after losing consecutive games. Then, another blow hit them hard as Cousins went down for the whole 2023 NFL season.

The Vikings shortly gave Jaren Hall a chance to be a starter before signing “Passtronaut” Joshua Dobbs and assigning him the starting role for Weeks 10–14. The signal-caller showcased a promising performance initially but has lost the charm lately. Now, the Vikings have decided to make Nick Mullens their fourth starter of the season.

Kevin O’Connell names Nick Mullens Vikings’ starting QB vs Bengals

In a season filled with QB uncertainties, the Vikings are preparing to showcase their fourth starting QB as they gear up to face the Cincinnati Bengals. Following their hard-fought victory against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14, Head Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Nick Mullens as the team’s starter for the impending battle against the Bengals.

O’Connell’s decision to opt for the signal-caller stems from his impressive performance after stepping in for Josh Dobbs during the fourth quarter of the Vikings’ 3-0 triumph over the Raiders.

“We’ve made the decision to start Nick Mullens this week. Thought he came into the game [Sunday] and really demonstrated his ability to prepare and be ready to go in and play in rhythm. Was accurate with the ball, made great decisions.”

The veteran’s ability to execute plays efficiently caught the attention of the coaching staff. Completing 9 of 13 passes for 83 yards, he converted three crucial third downs during the sole scoring drive, securing his team’s position for Greg Joseph’s game-winning field goal. The HC highlighted the QB’s readiness by citing his adaptability in the team’s offensive system and extensive preparation, even amidst a short week of training.

“Where we’re at as an offense right now, it’s about our execution with all 11 guys, and Nick’s comfort in our system – a lot of time on task logged in our offense – I think will be a bonus for us to continue to hunt improvement coming off last week and try to go be as efficient as we possibly can.”

The Vikings’ offensive strategy heavily relies on Mullens’ comfort and execution within the system. O’Connell said the QB possesses the necessary traits to lead the team to success while emphasizing his meticulous preparation and the ease with which he can execute the game plan.

“There’s a reason we went out and got Nick when we did, to really solidify that position. Anytime we’re going out to try to find a quarterback that you feel like, when he’s one snap away, can win you some football games, you look for certain traits. Nick has them all… He allows us to prepare with a plan and doesn’t need a whole lot of reps to then go out and execute that plan.”

Nick Mullens, the signal-caller with prior starting experience with the San Francisco 49ers and a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns, has been part of the Vikings’ system since his acquisition in August 2022. Although unavailable earlier due to injury, he is now fully fit and ready to lead the team.

What happened to Kirk Cousins?

In Week 8 of the NFL season, Kirk Cousins sustained a season-ending injury. During a scramble attempt in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers, he found himself tackled by Packers’ defensive tackle Kenny Clark, resulting in an injury that sidelined the Vikings’ starter.

The distress was visible as the signal-caller struggled to put weight on his right leg. The team and fans braced themselves for grim news, later confirmed by head coach Kevin O’Connell, who revealed that Cousins had torn his Achilles.

The road to recovery commenced swiftly as the Vikings star underwent successful surgery on November 1st at Twin Cities Orthopedics, led by the expertise of Dr. Chris Coetzee.

In a candid conversation with Eli and Peyton Manning on the ‘Manningcast’ during the Week 14 Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins game, the dual-threat provided an update on his progress. He spoke about the challenges of rehab, likening it to the fluctuations of the stock market, where progress isn’t linear but characterized by ebbs and flows.

“It’s going well. One day at a time. They told me that the rehab would be like the stock market where you’re in a general trend up but some days are better than others”, he said per Clutch Points.

The signal-caller humorously remarked,“I joke with them that since surgery it’s been a bull market. I’m just getting better every day and kind of waiting for that bear market and it hasn’t happened yet.”

Before his injury, Kirk did his part on the field, achieving more than 300 passing yards in four games. His season statistics stood at an impressive 69.5% completion rate, accompanied by 18 touchdowns and five interceptions across eight games.