On Saturday, the Minnesota Vikings will face the Cincinnati Bengals without the services of two key offensive players. Running back Alexander Mattison and right tackle Brian O’Neill have been ruled out due to ankle injuries sustained in the Vikings’ recent 3-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, preventing their participation in practice throughout the week.
Alexander Mattison, who has started in all 13 games this season and leads the team with 660 rushing yards, will be replaced by second-year running back Ty Chandler. Coach Kevin O’Connell disclosed that Chandler will assume the lead back role, with Kene Nwangwu and fullback C.J. Ham also available for carries.
Brian O’Neill, who had not missed a start this season following offseason Achilles surgery, will yield his position to veteran David Quessenberry.
These injuries pose an additional challenge for quarterback Nick Mullens, who becomes the Vikings’ fourth starter in a seven-game stretch. Despite this, Mullens will have the reliable target of receiver Justin Jefferson, who is expected to play his usual number of reps on Saturday despite being listed as questionable due to a chest injury suffered in the Raiders game.
Coach O’Connell expressed confidence in Jefferson’s recovery, stating, “He did probably more than I originally expected and responded really well to all the work. So we feel really good about where Justin’s at.”
Nick Mullens takes the reins from Joshua Dobbs, who played the majority of the Vikings’ past five games. O’Connell confirmed that Dobbs would serve as the emergency No. 3 quarterback on Saturday, with rookie Jaren Hall backing up Mullens as the No. 2. Hall, who hasn’t played since suffering a concussion on November 5 in his only start of the season, has fully recovered and used the week for continued development and growth.
“I just think that Jaren is fully healthy now,” O’Connell stated. “I think he’s really gotten back on the grass and really worked through his continued development. [We] wanted him to go about the week this week simulating as if he was playing, just using it as a real tool for his development and growth, and he’s done a nice job.”
