Purple Headlines of the Week: Riding with the Rookie, an Active Trade Deadline, Speedy WR Returning
Between Kirk Cousins’ injury and the trade deadline, this was a busy week for the Minnesota Vikings.
Ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota named a new starting QB while also swinging a couple trades prior to Tuesday’s deadline.
With the Vikings at 4-4 and set to play what could be a pivotal game for January’s playoffs, here is a look at all the purple headlines from the past week.
Jaren Hall to Make First NFL Start
After Cousins suffered a torn Achilles during last Sunday’s victory against the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings have had to figure out their starting QB for the first time since the veteran signed with Minnesota in 2018.
This weekend against Atlanta, Minnesota is riding with their rookie Jaren Hall, who will make his first career NFL start. The Vikings selected Hall in the fifth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft after a strong career at BYU. He has plenty of tools in his bag that made him a promising NFL QB, but this start is far ahead of any schedule for him.
Of course, Hall has plenty of weapons in Minnesota’s offense between standout rookie WR Jordan Addison as well as T.J. Hockenson, K.J. Osborn, and Brandon Powell. Hopefully, the rookie is able to at least be a solid game manager for the Vikings on Sunday.
Vikings Swing Pair of Trades at the Deadline
Per usual, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could not pass up the opportunity to swing a few trades at the deadline. The Vikings were one of the most active teams this past Tuesday, making two deals. Firstly, Minnesota brought in QB Joshua Dobbs, who will serve as the backup to Hall on Sunday with Nick Mullens remaining on IR for at least one more week.
Dobbs started the first eight weeks of the season in Arizona, totaling 1569 passing yards for 8 TDs and 5 INTs. He also has sneaky athletic ability and totaled 258 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs for the Cardinals, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. If things don’t go well for Hall on Sunday, Dobbs will likely take over the starting role in Week 10 against New Orleans.
Meanwhile, the Vikings also traded LG Ezra Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars, getting Carolina’s sixth-round pick in return. Cleveland had been having a career year in Minnesota and saw massive improvements to his pass-blocking abilities.
Cleveland had been dealing with a foot injury over the past couple weeks, though. With Dalton Risner serving as a suitable replacement, Minnesota felt comfortable dealing away their 2020 second-round pick. We also have to keep in mind that his contract was coming to an end, and he could be in line for a big deal this upcoming spring. Risner is likely a cheaper option to retain.
Jalen Nailor Returns?
Hall may get some added receiving help on Sunday, as well. After being on injured reserve since the conclusion of Week 2, Jalen Nailor was a full participant in practice throughout the week and appears set to make his return to the field.
Nailor has not had any snaps with the offense this season following a promising conclusion to his 2022 rookie season. In total, the Michigan State product had 7 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown last year. If this is his chance to get his first opportunity with the offense, Minnesota could use his abilities as a deep threat in the passing game.
In Case You Missed It…
We also have a list of extra reading material for the especially studious Vikings fans. With this being a busy week, plenty of news may have gone under the radar. Happy reading!
- 2 Vikings Earned Awards in October
- Everson Griffen Has a New Gig
- Teams Called About Danielle Hunter at the Deadline
- The Vikings’ Championship Drought Grabbed Headlines Again
- The Cousins Chronicles: An Opening Month of Kirk’s Highs, Lows, and Everything in Between
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.