The Minnesota Vikings already lost Kirk Cousins when the veteran quarterback suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 8. Rookie Jaren Hall replaced Cousins against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, but he also went down with an injury.
What’s the latest on Hall, and who’s up next in Minnesota?
Jaren Hall Injury Update
Nick Mullens, the Vikings’ typical QB2, is on injured reserve as he deals with a back issue. Hall, a 2023 fifth-round pick out of BYU, had completed five of six attempts for 78 yards before going down today.
Hall took a big hit from Falcons CB Jeff Okudah while trying to scramble for a touchdown near the end of the first quarter. He stayed down on the field, and his Vikings teammates immediately called for medical assistance.
#Vikings QB Jaren Hall took a huge shot trying to get to the end zone on this play and was slow to get up.
pic.twitter.com/YCYpzHfvUz— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 5, 2023
Hall was able to get up and leave the field under his own power. He was initially evaluated in the blue medical tent on Minnesota’s sideline, but he’s since departed for the club’s locker room.
Unfortunately, Hall has already been ruled out with a concussion. The Vikings announced he won’t return to Sunday’s game.
Joshua Dobbs, whom Minnesota acquired from the Arizona Cardinals just five days ago, will take over as the Vikings’ quarterback for the rest of the game. Minnesota didn’t elevate fellow QB Sean Mannion from its practice squad this week.
If Dobbs gets hurt in Week 9, running back Cam Akers is the Vikings’ emergency quarterback, per the FOX broadcast.
MORE: Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart
Dobbs has played on short notice on plenty of occasions. In 2022, he started for the Tennessee Titans eight days after joining the team. This year, Dobbs was the Cardinals’ Week 1 starter one month after Arizona acquired him from the Cleveland Browns.
Fantasy Fallout From Hall’s Injury
The Vikings’ move to Dobbs was likely going to happen sooner than later, and it’s good news long term for Justin Jefferson and short term for Jordan Addison. Dobbs spent the first two months of this season with the Cardinals and funneled 26.7% of the targets to his WR1 (Marquise Brown).
This offense is in a good position to sustain one fantasy-relevant receiver alongside TE T.J. Hockenson, but not more. Addison will fill that role until Jefferson — eligible to be activated in Week 10 — is back in the mix, but his value is on shaky ground at best once the All-Pro returns.
— PFN Fantasy Analyst Kyle Soppe