Had he not been placed on injured reserve at the time of Kirk Cousins’ season-ending Achilles injury in October, Nick Mullens would have been the obvious successor to the Minnesota Vikings offense.
In addition, Mullens is not given the same assurance as a legitimate starter does after two costly interceptions in the game, despite having secured the starting position by exceeding Kevin O’Connell’s expectations against the Cincinnati Bengals last week.
In response to a question about Mullens’ job security following O’Connell’s criticism of several “critical errors” in the Bengals’ 27-24 overtime loss on Saturday, December 16, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson revealed that Mullens is under pressure ahead of a crucial Week 16 matchup with the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions.
On SKOR North’s “Mackey and Judd” podcast, Wolfson stated, “I don’t know how long it is, but yes, there is some sort of [leash].” He also mentioned that the Vikings are hesitant to play rookie Jaren Hall but will bench Mullens if he plays too rashly. “If there are several grave errors on Sunday, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t immediately make the necessary corrections.”
To maintain his starting position, Nick Mullens needs to let go of his gunslinger mentality.
Mullens has earned a reputation as a gunslinger quarterback during his career. In 16 of the 26 games he has played, he has thrown an interception; in eight of his 18 starts, he has thrown multiple picks. In just four career starts, he has yet to throw an interception.
Although Mullens, a sixth-year veteran, has mastered playing inside a system, his true desire is to be a playmaker and passer of the ball.
Mullens’ second interception of the Bengals, according to O’Connell, was a prime example of a quarterback attempting to do too much. As he was being pulled to the ground, Mullens attempted to hurl the ball away and ultimately threw it into Bengals lineman B.J. Hill’s lap.
It was one of two interceptions Mullens threw that effectively resulted in points being scored because they were both inside the Bengals’ 25-yard line. In a game that went into overtime, a field goal on either of those drives would have been the difference.
Mullens admitted that he ought to have been benched on the play, but after the fact, things always seem more obvious.
Mullens reflected on the play and remarked, “Just take the sack and kick the field goal,” according to the Pioneer Press. “Take them; you already have points there.”
In his second appearance this week, he will aim to get better. But Mullens’ carelessness cannot afford to cost the Vikings a game when the NFC North division title is at stake.
NFL QB Carousel of the Vikings is a Rarity
Only 29 teams since 1950 have started four different quarterbacks in a single season, making the Vikings’ quarterback carousel a unique phenomenon in the NFL, according to ESPN.
Having started the season as Cousins’ primary backup, Mullens justifiably earned the starting position.
When Mullens was still on injured reserve due to a back injury and Cousins went down on October 29 due to an Achilles injury, Hall filled in.
Before being sidelined with a concussion in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons, Hall showed signs of potential, completing 5-of-6 ball attempts for 78 yards. With little than a week of preparation after being traded from the Arizona Cardinals, Josh Dobbs took over the remainder of the way.
O’Connell benched the seasoned journeyman in favor of Mullens after Dobbs threw four interceptions in a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears and failed to score through three quarters against the Las Vegas Raiders, which ultimately cost him the job.
In spite of the quarterback changes, Mullens must help the Vikings make history by assisting Minnesota in being one of only four teams to make it to the postseason.
