Daniel Jones could be in line to step in for Sam Darnold if the Vikings quarterback gets injured or has another rough performance when the postseason begins this weekend.
Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell left the door open for the former Giants quarterback to potentially jump to the No. 2 slot on the depth chart for their wild-card round game against the Rams on Monday.
Nick Mullens was QB2 for the Vikings previously, but O’Connell told local reporters, according to ESPN, that Jones has “progressed” since being signed to the active roster earlier this week.
“He’s gotten a lot of really good work in both running scout team works and then just extra work here and there when he can with [quarterbacks coach Josh McCown] and Nick and Brett [Rypien] as well,” O’Connell said. “The best way I can put it is we’re doing everything we can to get Sam ready to go, but at the same time, whether it’s Nick or Daniel or Brett, having all those guys absorbing the game plan like always. It’s such a fluid thing here the rest of the way. We’re going to do whatever we think gives us the best chance to win.”
O’Connell reiterated that the coaching staff would “do whatever it takes to give us the best chance to win here the rest of the way,” when pressed if Jones could be bumped up to the backup job.
Jones signed to the Vikings‘ practice squad shortly after he was released by the Giants in November.
He spent the first 5 ½ years with the Giants, who drafted him sixth overall in 2019.
While Jones’ playoff experience has been limited, he did lead the Giants to a victory over the Vikings in the wild-card round in 2022.
The possibility comes after Jones was signed to the active roster earlier this week and a rough start for Darnold — a former first-round pick by the Jets — in the Vikings’ season finale against the Lions.
