Nick Mullens became the fourth starting quarterback this season for the Minnesota Vikings when he took over last Saturday for an overtime loss in Cincinnati.
Despite throwing two crucial interceptions in Bengals’ territory in the opening half, coach Kevin O’Connell said he saw enough to stick with the veteran for Sunday’s game against Detroit.
But is there anything that could change that? Let’s examine that issue, and a few others, in this edition of four-and-out.
How many mistakes will be too many for Nick Mullens?
Mullens’ start against the Bengals was his first since Dec. 20, 2021, when he completed 20 of 30 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown for the Browns in a two-point loss against Las Vegas.
Mullens completed 26 of 33 passes for 303 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in Cincinnati. That last stat has been an issue for the 28-year-old Mullens throughout his career. He has made 18 starts and 26 appearances in six seasons, throwing 29 touchdowns and 25 picks.
Mullens had 10 interceptions in eight starts in 2018 with the 49ers, and 12 in 10 appearances and eight starts two years later. The two he threw in Cincinnati cost the Vikings an opportunity to allow Greg Joseph to attempt makeable field goals.
Mullens tried to force a pass to Justin Jefferson on third-and-9 from the Bengals 14 that was intercepted by cornerback Mike Hilton, and then, after taking a 6-yard sack, foolishly tried to throw the ball away as he was being sacked on third-and-7 from the Bengals 22. Instead, Mullens put the ball right into the midsection of defensive tackle BJ Hill.
Both miscues came in the second quarter and cost the Vikings a chance to be up 13-3 at halftime.
Mullens accumulating passing yards is great, but how much patience will O’Connell have if Mullens continues to struggle with decision-making? Jaren Hall, the Vikings’ fifth-round pick last spring, was the backup against the Bengals and started on Nov. 5 in Atlanta before suffering a concussion in the first quarter.
O’Connell clearly would like to avoid playing Hall, given his inexperience and the fact this was supposed to be a learning season behind the injured Kirk Cousins, but Mullens’ reckless nature also has a chance to cost the Vikings a playoff berth.
Josh Dobbs is another option but he was benched in favor of Mullens and was the third quarterback last week, meaning he could only play in an emergency role.
If that’s the situation on Sunday, and Mullens gets careless with the football, it will be interesting to see if O’Connell, a former quarterback himself, makes another move.
Ty Chandler needs to be Vikings' top running back
One of the big questions this season has been why the Vikings haven’t given second-year running back Ty Chandler a bigger role in the offense? Alexander Mattison had been atop the depth chart until the Bengals game when he sat out because of an ankle injury.
Chandler, a fifth-round pick in 2022, proved he deserved the opportunity by rushing for 132 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown and catching three passes for 25 yards against the Bengals.
That marked the Vikings’ first 100-yard rushing performance since former Viking Dalvin Cook went for 119 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown on Nov. 13, 2022 in a three-point victory in Buffalo
Mattison, a third-round pick by the Vikings in 2019, had a season-high 95 yards on 17 carries in Week 4 at Carolina and is averaging 3.9 yards per carry this season. Chandler is at 4.7 yards per attempt.
“I know Ty is coming off of a great performance and feeling more and more confidence, and we’re kind of building with the mindset that Ty is going to be a guy that we are trying to get the ball to a lot, both in the run and in the pass,” O’Connell said Wednesday. “If we can have Alex, that is going to be a huge bonus for the depth and making sure we have our full group available.”
It’s not just the stats that say Chandler should be the Vikings’ top running back — at least on first and second down — it’s also the eye test. Chandler has an explosiveness that Mattison lacks. That doesn’t mean Mattison can’t have a role — although he still might be out on Sunday — it just means Chandler’s needs to be bigger.
Jordan Hicks' return should help to stabilize defense
It appears linebacker Jordan Hicks will return Sunday after needing emergency surgery for compartment syndrome to reduce the swelling in his right leg just over a month ago.
Hicks was injured in the Vikings’ victory over the Saints in Week 10 and could have lost his leg, if doctors hadn’t acted quickly. It would have been understandable if the 31-year-old had decided to shut it down for the season but that isn’t going to happen.
“We’ll let him work through the week,” O’Connell said of whether Hicks will be available. “(He) got some reps (Tuesday), we’ll get more throughout and then we’ll make a determination going into the weekend, but I do know Jordan wants to be out there more than anything and we’ll see how he handles the week.”
Hicks wears the green dot on his helmet, meaning he communicates the plays called by defensive coordinator Brian Flores and has provided a stabilizing presence on defense this season. Rookie linebacker Ivan Pace took over the green dot duties during Hicks’ absence but the veteran’s return should help a unit that gave up 21 fourth-quarter points to the Bengals last week.
The Vikings are fortunate that Hicks agreed to take a $1.5 million pay cut last offseason to return for a second season in Minnesota.
Marcus Davenport's season (and time in Minnesota) might be finished
The Vikings were hoping to get a big season from pass rusher Marcus Davenport when they signed the free agent to a one-year, $13 million deal in March. Davenport was the 14th pick in the 2018 draft by the Saints and was coming off a disappointing season in which he had a half-sack in 15 games and nine starts.
A bounce-back season would have set up Davenport to cash in during free agency this coming March. Unfortunately, it hasn’t come close to happening. Davenport has two sacks in four games and three starts and hasn’t played since suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 6 at Chicago. Davenport also missed two of the Vikings’ first three games because of an ankle injury.
He reportedly underwent surgery after he was injured on Oct. 15 in Chicago and the expectation was he would be out four-to-six weeks. But Davenport hasn’t had his 21-day practice window opened and the clock is ticking.
“He continues to work through it,” O’Connell said. “It’s kind of a week-to-week thing. He has progressed pretty well through the rehab and what that looks like as far as when we could possibly open his window and maybe get him back. We are getting later on in the season and hopefully we can get him back at some point.
“I just can’t tell you right now when that’s going to be, coming off of … these injuries can be tricky throughout the beginning and really getting all the way back to where you feel like you can go out there and do your thing.”
It’s safe to assume, Davenport won’t be doing his thing in Minnesota next season.
