The Minnesota Vikings have been on a roll, though they face uncertain waters the rest of the way as they’ll be without Kirk Cousins.
Cousins unfortunately tore his Achilles tendon in the Vikings’ Week 8 win over the Green Bay Packers and will miss the remainder of the 2023 NFL season.
The veteran quarterback was having a career year under center, but now head coach Kevin O’Connell will have to trot out rookie backup Jaren Hall for Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Hall will presumably start for just this week as Minnesota traded for Joshua Dobbs to replace Cousins and keep their postseason hopes alive.
Even with Hall starting, the Vikings have enough talent to beat an up-and-down Falcons team though they may be even more shorthanded on the offensive side.
According to Field Yates of ESPN, starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw is dealing with a groin injury and is listed as questionable for the game.
Darrisaw has been outstanding this season in both pass protection and the run game, so if he’s unable to go that could spell trouble for Hall who will be making his first career start.
If Darrisaw is forced to sit, David Quessenberry would step in to replace him though he’s not nearly the same caliber of tackle.
With a potentially different offensive line configuration, Minnesota could look to protect Hall by running the football more.
The Vikings look like they may be up against it, but if they can pull off a win it would go a long way toward keeping pace in the NFC North and the wild card race.
