Kevin O’Connell Leaves the Door Ajar for a Quarterback Shake Up in the Playoffs
The situation is, according to Kevin O’Connell, “fluid.”
There are four quarterbacks that the Vikings could turn to in the opening round of the NFL playoffs. Of course, there’s no mystery or debate about who will be taking the first snap from Garrett Bradbury: Sam Darnold, the QB1 who has been (mostly) excellent throughout the 2024 season. What about the main backup spot, though?
Kevin O’Connell & The Vikings’ QB Hierarchy
Earlier in the week, the Vikings did the expected by elevating Daniel Jones to the active roster. Jones is, after all, a former top-ten selection with tons of starting experience. Brett Rypien was waived but has been brought back to the practice squad.
So, a simple one-for-one swap, right? Rypien was the QB3, a job that now belongs to Jones. Right?
O’Connell didn’t offer ironclad certainty.
The question asked whether Daniel Jones could ascend higher than just being the QB3. O’Connell, someone who’s never afraid to articulate his confidence in his players, was vague in his response: “[Jones] definitely has progressed. He’s gotten a lot of really good work in, both running scout-team looks and then just extra work here and there when we can […] It’s kind of, the best way I could put it is, we’re doing everything we can to get Sam [Darnold] ready to go. But at the same time, whether it’s Nick [Mullens], or Daniel [Jones], or Brett [Rypien] now, all of those guys are absorbing the game plan like always. And it’s such a fluid thing here for the rest of the way, we’re going to do whatever we think gives us the best chance to win.”
The immediate follow-up question asks for more clarity about Jones possibly being the main backup: “We’re going to do whatever gives us the best chance to win here the rest of the way.”
A few takeaways.
He didn’t need to, but O’Connell confirmed that most of the focus rests on getting Darnold ready. The QB1 remains precisely that: the QB1. None of Mullens, Jones, nor Rypien are doing anything to change that reality.
But then there’s some mystery.
O’Connell, perhaps, is speaking vaguely as a way of participating in a bit of gamesmanship. The Rams are going to be preparing for Darnold while doing (presumably) some research into the main backup in case an injury forces Minnesota’s top passer out of the game. By failing to officially reaffirm that Mullens is still the QB2, O’Connell introduces a tiny bit of uncertainty into the Rams’ preparation.
In all likelihood, though, Mullens is going to be the main backup. He has occupied that job for several years now, first behind Kirk Cousins and now behind Darnold.
Even better, Mullens is legitimately good at his job. On a pair of occasions, Darnold has needed to come off of the field due to injury. Both times Mullens went in and made clutch passes (both went to running back Aaron Jones). Active all season as the primary backup, Mullens has gone 2/2 in the 2024 regular season, picking up 38 yards and a pair of first downs.
O’Connell knows that Mullens is a great professional and a great competitor, someone who can be called upon at a moment’s notice to give his team a chance to win. Sounds like a strong backup quarterback.
The evasiveness from Kevin O’Connell, however, introduces a degree of uncertainty about the quarterback position in the playoffs. After all, Daniel Jones does have higher upside, so maybe Minnesota does something unexpected in the postseason.
The Vikings and Rams will play on Monday, January 13th at 7 p.m. CT. Keep an eye on the QB depth chart.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.