Vikings holding onto QB this week according to Kevin O’Connell

The Minnesota Vikings will keep Joshua Dobbs as their starting quarterback for at least one more week.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell revealed on Wednesday that Dobbs will start at quarterback against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. O’Connell left the door open following Dobbs’ four interceptions in the Vikings’ Week 12 loss to the Chicago Bears. Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens, both rookies, were considered replacements for Dobbs.

“Feel great about our bye week process of two layers to it, evaluating where Josh has been as far as immediately providing a spark and helping us win two football games and then transitioning to some tough outcomes where there’s all kinds of things we can do better,” O’Connell said in a Wednesday press conference.

“We could coach better, but our plan is for Josh’s continued comfort in our offense and how we play, as well as our offense and our staff’s ability to evolve and help Josh thrive.” We have a lot of faith in him.”

Dobbs has gone 1-2 as the Vikings’ starter after being acquired from Arizona in a trade when Kirk Cousins went down with an Achilles injury. Kyler Murray continued to rehab his surgically repaired knee as Dobbs went 1-7 in Arizona. Dobbs, 28, is completing 64% of his passes for the two clubs, throwing for 2,401 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

If the season ended today, the Vikings would make the playoffs based on tiebreakers over the other.500 teams in the NFC.

However, the game against Las Vegas (5-7) on Sunday is critical, especially with the return of outstanding wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The Vikings have now dropped two straight games.