Vikings to start Josh Dobbs vs. Raiders despite turnovers - ESPN

EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings are sticking with quarterback Josh Dobbs for at least one more week, coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday.

Dobbs will start Sunday's game at the Las Vegas Raiders despite committing six turnovers in the last two games, both losses. O'Connell spent the bye week reviewing Dobbs' four games and considered turning to backup Nick Mullens or No. 3 quarterback Jaren Hall. Ultimately, though, he decided to more aggressively adjust the Vikings' scheme to comport with Dobbs' skills.

Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips on Tuesday said the bye week had given the Vikings' coaching staff «time to look at what [Dobbs has] done here more closely and take a breath from game planning for the next team.»

«What did he have success with?» Phillips added. «What are some things that we can help him with and work on throughout [Monday's] practice and going forward this week?… We can put a couple of those things together where we're hopefully getting into some things that are going to be good for him and vice versa.»

The Vikings built their offense this season around veteran pocket passer Kirk Cousins, who was tied for the NFL lead in touchdown passes (18) and ranked second in passing yards (2,331) when he suffered a season-ending rupture of his right Achilles tendon in Week 8. Mullens was on injured reserve at the time because of a back injury, prompting the Vikings to acquire Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 31 to serve as a backup to Hall.

When Hall suffered a concussion in the first quarter of his first start, Dobbs replaced him and has played most of the Vikings' past four games. He led them to victories in their first two but his turnovers played a significant role in the losses that followed.

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