Kevin O’Connell said on Wednesday that Nick Mullens will start for the Vikings in their regular season finale on Sunday in Detroit.
During the Vikings’ game against the Packers this past weekend, Mullens came in at halftime to replace rookie Jaren Hall, who had lost the ball twice in the first half and was having trouble moving the ball efficiently. Mullens completed 13 of 22 throws for 113 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers in a second half that was essentially garbage time.
The Vikings’ season has been rather unpredictable ever since Kirk Cousins suffered an Achilles tear that ended the season. Hall was the first, followed by Dobbs, Mullens, Hall, and now Mullens once more.
Mullens started for the Vikings against the Bengals and Lions in the two weeks before to being momentarily benched for Hall. In those contests, he passed for 714 yards and four touchdowns, but he also threw six interceptions in a row.two defeats of one score. Similar to how Josh Dobbs was benched earlier due to ineffectiveness and turnovers, it was the same kinds of turnovers that led to his benching. The Vikings may be able to pull off an upset this weekend against the Lions if Mullens can manage the ball a little better. He can move the ball and create explosive plays.
