Vikings prepare for life without Kirk Cousins, Jaren Hall readies for first NFL start
Click the video box above to watch KSTP Sports story as it aired about Jaren Hall preparing for his first start as an NFL Quarterback this weekend as the Vikings face Atlanta
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, head coach Kevin O’Connell and the team’s new starting quarterback Jaren Hall each addressed the media Wednesday afternoon about the Vikings quarterback situation moving forward this season.
Hall, a rookie 5th-round draftee, entered last week’s win over Green Bay when Kirk Cousins went down with a torn achilles. Hall will see the first start of his NFL career this week in Atlanta.
The Vikings also acquired Josh Dobbs from Arizona to provide further depth in the quarterback room. Dobbs was at the TCO Center in Eagan for the first time Wednesday and is expected to speak with media on Thursday.
Click the video box above to hear complete comments from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell
Cousins suffered a season-ending torn Achillies injury Sunday in Green Bay. Nick Mullens, Cousins’ primary backup the past two seasons, is currently on Injured Reserve with a back ailment.
“When you have a quarterback injury in the NFL, your phone becomes the most popular phone I think in the Minnesota area,” said Adofo-Mensah. “There were a lot of options, but again this whole time we stuck to our guns, what we are trying to do, what we are trying to get to.”
Kevin O’Connell told the media this week that rookie Jaren Hall will start this Sunday at Atlanta. Hall finished the game against the Packers after Cousins’ injury.
“To me, it’s about execution, it’s about doing the little things right around Jaren,” O’Connell said about not overwhelming Hall in his upcoming first NFL start. “Allowing him to feel like he’s in a position he can go out and do his job.”
The Vikings have won three straight games and are back to a five-hundred record at 4-4.
Hall completed 3 of 4 passes for 23 yards, including a 16-yard pass on a key third down to T.J. Hockenson, but was also strip-sacked inside the Minnesota 20, leading to a turnover.
Click the video box below to hear comments from Jaren Hall on preparing for Atlanta
New quarterback Dobbs played in eight games this season for the Cardinals.