Inside The Vikings

Vikings QB News: Josh Dobbs Wins Weekly Award, Tanner Morgan Returns

Dobbs was named the NFC's offensive player of the week after a game he didn't even start.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings QB News: Josh Dobbs Wins Weekly Award, Tanner Morgan Returns
Vikings QB News: Josh Dobbs Wins Weekly Award, Tanner Morgan Returns

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Minnesota Vikings

Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Wednesday.

Acquired from the Cardinals via trade last Tuesday, Dobbs had to step in when Jaren Hall got injured early in Sunday's game against the Falcons. After a slow start that included a safety and a couple lost fumbles, he got going and heroically led the Vikings to an improbable 31-28 comeback victory on the road.

It was a truly incredible feat pulled off by Dobbs and Kevin O'Connell — a story that will be remembered as one of the best in the NFL all season.

Dobbs completed 20 of 30 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner to Brandon Powell with less than 30 seconds on the clock. He also added 66 rushing yards and a touchdown, using his legs to extend multiple drives as a scrambler.

Other players in the NFC might've had more impressive raw statistics this week, but Dobbs was fully deserving of this award because of the context of his performance. He hardly knew his teammates' names, barely knew the Vikings' playbook, and took his first snaps from center Garrett Bradbury on the sideline right before going in.

The Vikings have had a couple NFC defensive players of the week this year — Jordan Hicks and Camryn Bynum — but this is their first OPOW award in 2023. Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson each won the award once last season. Dobbs is the first Vikings QB not named Cousins to win it since Sam Bradford in Week 1 of the 2017 season.

Dobbs will make his first Vikings start this Sunday against the Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Tanner Morgan returns

The Vikings have signed former University of Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan to their practice squad, they announced on Wednesday. He previously spent five days on the practice squad in early October after Nick Mullens got injured.

Morgan gives the Vikings a third QB for practice this week, joining Dobbs and veteran Sean Mannion (who is also on the PS). Hall remains in concussion protocol.

Morgan went 33-14 as the Gophers' starting quarterback from 2018-22. He ranks second in program history behind Adam Weber in both passing yards and touchdown passes. In 2019, he set single-season records in yards and touchdowns as the Gophers won 11 games for the first time since 1904.

The Vikings also officially placed RB Cam Akers on injured reserve. He's out for the year with a torn Achilles.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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