Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) catches a pass from quarterback Sam Darnold (14) against the Houston Texans in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings have absolutely zero quarterback controversy at quarterback, according to the team’s RB1, Aaron Jones.
Jones spoke with Kay Adams on Monday, and she asked him about his confidence level in Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, who produced a terrible Week 10 showing at the Jacksonville Jaguars, tossing 3 picks to no touchdowns in his team’s 12-7 win.
“110%,” Jones gave his confidence meter a percentage. “We ride with Sam. He’s what has gotten us here so far. We’re gonna continue to stick by his side. We know he’s a great quarterback. He can touch any blade of grass on the field throwing that ball.
“I mean, you just have some games like that. That’s what teammates are there for, to pick each other up. That’s what our defense was there for — to hold them to seven points the whole game so we could win off the field goals.”
After Darnold’s third pick of the game, social media exploded, calling for Darnold to hit the sidelines in favor of QB2 Nick Mullens — who is even more famous for throwing interceptions than Darnold. Others, like Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, suggested that Minnesota sign free-agent passer Ryan Tannehill and let it ride.
Jones added, “We all got Sam’s back. 100%. 110% believe in him. He’s gonna show you guys. He’s used to the narrative that’s gonna come out or be spun.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, too, rapidly and emphatically squashed any quarterback controversy after the game. Reporters asked O’Connell if he had a moment when he considered tossing Mullens into action, and he replied, “Not one. Not one all day long. In fact, I was looking at it as a great opportunity to see growth and continue to move the team. We’re going to check back on this moment and use it the right way, and Sam is going to be better off for it. I truly do believe that.”
Darnold ranks 11th among all qualifying quarterbacks per EPA+CPOE, an efficiency metric measuring expected wins added. He’s sandwiched between Patrick Mahomes (No. 10) and Kirk Cousins (No. 12).
In theory, if Minnesota benched Darnold, it would turn to Nick Mullens, whose only major flaw is — you guessed it — interceptions.
O’Connell added, “We’re still 100% confident in Sam. It would be craziness not to be.”
The Vikings will assuredly roll with Darnold in Week 11 at the Tennessee Titans and beyond. Aaron Jones and Kevin O’Connell have no time for replacement quarterback theories.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.