Josh Dobbs is now the anti-Tommy DeVito.
While DeVito has taken the world by storm in his rise from third-string quarterback to the Giants’ starter, Dobbs has instead been demoted from being the Vikings’ starter to the team’s third-string quarterback Saturday against the Bengals, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Rookie quarterback Jaren Hall will instead backup Nick Mullens, who replaced Dobbs in the Vikings’ 3-0 win over the Raiders last Sunday.
“I just think Jaren is fully healthy now and has gotten back on the grass and really worked through his continued development and wanted him to go about the week this week, kind of simulating … as if he was playing,” O’Connell said Wednesday. “Using it as a real tool for his development and his growth, and he’s done a nice job.
“Josh Dobbs will be ready to play, like he has to help us go through 3-2 over the last five.”
Before Tommy Cutlets emerged from his parents’ New Jersey house to save the Giants’ season, Dobbs provided the feel-good story of the season.
Dobbs served admirably as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback before being benched, and the Vikings then acquired him to replace Kirk Cousins.
His tenure began with a thrilling come-from-behind win over the Falcons and a victory over the Saints, but the Vikings’ offense has derailed since.
He turned the ball over twice in a 21-20 loss to the Broncos and then threw four interceptions in a 12-10 home loss to the Bears, which put him on the hot seat.
The Vikings stuck with him during the bye, but O’Connell decided he had seen enough in the fourth quarter against the Raiders.
With the Vikings’ offense stuck in neutral, O’Connell benched Dobbs for Mullens.
Mullens ultimately orchestrated a 13-play, 56-yard drive for a field goal that proved to be the only points in the game.
O’Connell announced Tuesday that Mullens would start against the Bengals on Saturday in a matchup of 7-6 playoff hopefuls.
“I think Josh understands the process and where we’ve been at. I think he has respect for the opportunity he had and some of the really good things that he did,” O’Connell said Tuesday, per ESPN. “I do believe that Nick Mullens gives us the best chance to win the football game this Saturday, and that’s the decision we made.”
The Vikings are the No. 6 seed in the NFC, but have just a one-game lead over the Packers, Rams, Seahawks, Falcons and Saints in a jumbled playoff picture.
