Preseason games have started to shift in nature as teams have continued moving away from starters seeing the field. The onus has started to be placed on getting young players in battles for roster spots the brunt of the snaps. Head Coach Kevin O\u2019Connell made his stance on playing starters in preseason known right away when he didn’t let guys like Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson see a single snap of action. The same should be expected when the Vikings head to Seattle for their first preseason matchup of 2023. That should give rookies and young guys on the bubble plenty of opportunity to showcase their talents. Even without starters playing there should still be plenty of storylines to pay attention to in the Vikings preseason opener, including an intriguing rookie quarterback debut.<\/p>\n
Nick Mullens is deservedly the front-runner for the backup quarterback role in Minnesota this coming season. He\u2019s played generally serviceable football in the past when pressed into action by various Jimmy Garoppolo injuries in San Francisco. That backdrop alone puts him in the respectable backup quarterback category as teams normally have no idea what they\u2019re going to get from that spot.<\/p>\n
A resume of playing well for a backup is still not enough to stop Vikings fans from hoping to see rookie sixth-round quarterback Jaren Hall<\/a> pushing Mullens for the job. Anytime a team drafts a rookie quarterback, regardless of round, they become an immediate source of interest for the fanbase.<\/p>\n That truth should particularly hold true for Hall, who has a “dominate the preseason” type of skillset. He\u2019s on the slighter side but plays the game like a poor man\u2019s Kyler Murray. He doesn\u2019t have the arm talent that Murray does, but he\u2019s lightning-quick inside and outside the pocket. Hall is also old for a rookie and an extremely quick decision-maker when distributing the ball. Look for him to dissect the vanilla defensive looks he\u2019s likely to see on Thursday and add a few splash plays with his legs. Something like 200 total yards and a few touchdowns seems in the realm of possibility. That would certainly be enough to get Minnesota buzzing about a backup quarterback controversy.<\/p>\n Only one foot down but what a throw from Jarren Hall #SeniorBowl<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/I6QL3RuLAN<\/a><\/p>\n — Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) February 2, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n