Purple Rumor Mill: Dobbs Elevated, WR Return, One More Pass Rusher?
VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the November 5th edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Dobbs Elevated, WR Return, One More Pass Rusher?
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the Vikings, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Here’s the second batch of the week. Yesterday’s can be read here.
Rumor: Newcomer QB Josh Dobbs will be the Vikings QB2 on Sunday.
After Kirk Cousins was lost for the season to a torn Achilles, Minnesota examined all trade options, including names like Jameis Winston, Jacoby Brissett, and John Wolford, landing on a basically-free trade for Joshua Dobbs.
Dobbs joins the Vikings, along with a 7th-Round draft pick, in exchange for a 6th-Rounder to Arizona.
Depending on how Jaren Hall plays Sunday, Dobbs could actually be the Vikings QB1 before too long, already completing eight starts in the desert for the Cardinals in 2023.
And at Atlanta, Dobbs is listed as the QB2, meaning he’s one snap away from the bright lights. If Hall is injured or plays horrendously, Vikings fans could begin the Dobbs experience as early as Sunday afternoon.
Rumor: Jalen Nailor may finally be back from injured reserve at the Atlanta Falcons.
The Vikings designated Nailor to return from injured reserve about 2.5 weeks ago — he suffered the same injury as Justin Jefferson, a hamstring — meaning all signs point to Nailor returning to the field this week. He’s questionable on the injury report, and if he’s finally ready, Nailor could become the Vikings WR3 in Week 9. The Vikings formally activated Nailor, too, for Week 9.
Nailor had a productive finish to his rookie season in 2022, tabulating 179 receiving yards and 1 touchdown, although mostly in garbage time.
He’s one of the fastest players on the Vikings roster, and Minnesota lacked speed without Nailor, Jefferson, and kick returner Kene Nwangwu in recent weeks. However, all three should be back firmly on the roster before too long.
Rumor: The Vikings are one injury away from needing EDGE rusher depth.
Danielle Hunter is playing like the Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Davenport is on IR, and D.J. Wonnum has balled out in the last month.
While most of that is fine and dandy, the Vikings are one EDGE rusher injury away from breadcrumbs at the position. It’s obviously too late to trade for any reinforcements, but a handful of free agents are available if Minnesota feels frisky and wants some EDGE depth.
For example, Robert Quinn, Melvin Ingram, and Mario Addison remain available on the open market.
If no injuries occur or Davenport returns in a couple of weeks, the outside linebacker spot should be fine, but otherwise, the Vikings should sign someone like Quinn.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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