After losing starting quarterback Kirk Cousins for the season with an Achilles injury in Week 8, the Minnesota Vikings turned to rookie Jaren Hall.
Even after Minnesota acquired Josh Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals midweek, the Vikings opted to start Hall for their Week 9 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.
Hall didn’t last long, leaving Sunday’s game in the first quarter after taking a big hit trying to scramble for a touchdown. He took a hit to his helmet, but also hit his head on the ground as he fell.
#Vikings rookie QB Jaren Hall has gone to the locker room after taking this big hit near the goal line.
Josh Dobbs, who just joined the team after starting 8 games for Arizona, would be the next man up.pic.twitter.com/mnR8TLFWdY
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 5, 2023
The Vikings later announced Hall would be out for the rest of the game, leading to Dobbs making his Minnesota debut just days after his arrival.
QB Jaren Hall (concussion) has been ruled out.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 5, 2023
Dobbs has only been with the Vikings since Tuesday. He likely didn’t start practicing with the team until Wednesday or Thursday.
Before leaving with the injury, Hall went five-for-six for 76 yards as he looked to be growing more confident and comfortable in the Minnesota offense.
Making things tougher for Dobbs will be the fact that Minnesota’s rushing offense has struggled to get much going of late, which will likely remain the case with a quarterback who is inexperienced in a new system.
NFL fans quickly reacted to the development.
Telling my kids about The Jaren Hall Drive
pic.twitter.com/4LbuOCezCL— Gary Treeman (@PurpyNFL) November 5, 2023
https://twitter.com/ClappedDan/status/1721244488016826373
Most normal chain of events in Vikings history.
— IbraHIM To MN (@MNSPORTSWRLD) November 5, 2023
Josh Dobbs always finds himself inserted into games in the same manner that a chef on Chopped has to start cooking seconds after opening the basket
— Patrick Claybon (@PatrickClaybon) November 5, 2023
