Tag: Mullens

Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (12) celebrates after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings demote Josh Dobbs, QB Nick Mullens to start Saturday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Nick Mullens was named starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, giving the playoff-pursuing contender a fourth QB1 in 14 games this season.

Josh Dobbs was benched in the fourth quarter at Las Vegas in favor of Mullens, who helped steer Minnesota to a 3-0 win over the Raiders.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell had refused to name a starting quarterback on Monday but on Tuesday shared his decision to elevate Mullens to the starting role for Saturday’s game in Cincinnati.

At 7-6, the Vikings and Bengals are both in the hunt for the playoffs without their planned No. 1 quarterbacks.

Mullens isn’t new to the role. He has 17 career starts — 16 with the 49ers from 2018-2020 and one in 2021 with the Browns — but was injured when the Vikings lost Kirk Cousins to a season-ending injury in Week 8. That led Minnesota to start rookie Jaren Hall, who was knocked out of the game with a concussion, prompting the Vikings to insert Dobbs.

Mullens completed 9 of 13 passes for 83 yards last week at Las Vegas and generated the Vikings’ only points in the game. Dobbs was 10-of-23 passing for 63 and was sacked five times by the Raiders before being benched.

It was the second straight rough outing for Dobbs. He was intercepted four times Nov. 27 in a 12-10 home loss to the Chicago Bears, prompting O’Connell to review the pecking order at the position during the team’s bye week.

Dobbs is likely to be the third quarterback at Cincinnati with Hall elevated to No. 2, but O’Connell said the team was still setting the depth chart.

The Bengals have won back-to-back games with Jake Browning at quarterback in place of Joe Burrow, who is on injured reserve.

Minnesota is 5-2 on the road this season.

–Field Level Media

Aug 27, 2021; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Mullens (10) throws the ball during the second half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Browns’ Nick Mullens gets start as top 2 QBs remain in protocol

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pushing their game back two days didn’t help the Cleveland Browns quarterback situation after all.

Third-string quarterback Nick Mullens will start Monday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders as starter Baker Mayfield and backup Case Keenum could not clear COVID-19 protocols, per multiple reports.

The only player able to clear the protocols Monday was safety John Johnson, leaving the Browns with 22 still in the protocols, including three on the practice squad.

The Browns have three coaches sidelined in the protocols, including head coach Kevin Stefanski. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as acting head coach and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will call plays if Stefanski remains out as expected.

The Browns learned Wednesday that Mayfield tested positive and landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. On Thursday, Keenum went on the COVID list after testing positive.

That leaves Mullens to start his 17th NFL game. All of Mullens’ starts came for the San Francisco 49ers from 2018-20. In 19 games overall, Mullens is completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 4,714 yards with 25 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.

The game was scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The NFL moved the game to 5 p.m. ET Monday in an effort to give the Browns a chance to return some of their players to active duty.

However, the Browns still have the following impact players on the COVID list: tight end Austin Hooper, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, left tackle Jedrick Wills, kick returner JoJo Natson, Mayfield and Keenum, defensive tackle Malik McDowell, safeties Ronnie Harrison and Grant Delpit, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, right tackle James Hudson III and punter Jamie Gillan.

Running back Kareem Hunt and cornerback Troy Hill, both on the list, were expected to miss the game due to injury anyway.

It’s an enormous game for the Browns (7-6), who could vault to first place in the AFC North with a win or drop to last place in the division with a loss.

The Browns activated seven players from the practice squad as COVID-19 replacements: cornerbacks Brian Allen and Herb Miller, safeties Jovante Moffatt and Tedric Thompson, guard Hjalte Froholdt, defensive end Joe Jackson and running back John Kelly.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski talks with quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Browns add QB Nick Mullens to roster; Baker Mayfield still out

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A quarterback returned to practice for the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, two days before Saturday’s home game with the Las Vegas Raiders.

It was not Baker Mayfield.

Nick Mullens was activated from the team’s practice squad and tight end David Njoku returned from the COVID/reserve list, but Mayfield was not available again, and his chances of facing the Raiders appear to be slim.

Mayfield was among a number of Cleveland players and staff on the COVID list. Safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. was added to that list on Thursday, and tight end Stephen Carlson was activated from it.

Health and safety protocols require players to test negative twice in a 24-hour span to be able to return to team activities.

Without Mayfield, the Browns would start Case Keenum at quarterback on Saturday.

Keenum, 33, who is in his ninth NFL season, has played in six games this year and has started one. He has completed 30 of 48 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown, with no interceptions.

Mullens, 26, is a fourth-year quarterback out of Southern Mississippi. He hasn’t played this season but has appeared in 19 games (16 starts) lifetime, all for the San Francisco 49ers. He is 387-for-600 for 4,714 yards and 25 TDs, with 22 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Dec 20, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (4) hands off to running back Raheem Mostert (31) against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

49ers place QB Mullens, RB Mostert on season-ending IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers placed quarterback Nick Mullens and running back Raheem Mostert on injured reserve Friday, ending their seasons.

Mullens injured his right elbow and Mostert aggravated his sprained right ankle last Sunday in the Niners’ 41-33 loss at Dallas.

Mullens, 25, appeared in 10 games (eight starts) and completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,437 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was 2-6 as a starter.

Mostert, 28, made eight starts and rushed for 521 yards and two touchdowns. He added 16 receptions for 156 yards and one score.

The 49ers (5-9), who have been eliminated from the playoff picture, face the Arizona Cardinals (8-6) on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz.

–Field Level Media

Dec 20, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (4) hands off to running back Raheem Mostert (31) against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

49ers place QB Mullens, RB Mostert on season-ending IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers placed quarterback Nick Mullens and running back Raheem Mostert on injured reserve Friday, ending their seasons.

Mullens injured his right elbow and Mostert aggravated his sprained right ankle last Sunday in the Niners’ 41-33 loss at Dallas.

Mullens, 25, appeared in 10 games (eight starts) and completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,437 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was 2-6 as a starter.

Mostert, 28, made eight starts and rushed for 521 yards and two touchdowns. He added 16 receptions for 156 yards and one score.

The 49ers (5-9), who have been eliminated from the playoff picture, face the Arizona Cardinals (8-6) on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz.

–Field Level Media

Dec 20, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (4) hands off to running back Raheem Mostert (31) against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

49ers place QB Mullens, RB Mostert on season-ending IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers placed quarterback Nick Mullens and running back Raheem Mostert on injured reserve Friday, ending their seasons.

Mullens injured his right elbow and Mostert aggravated his sprained right ankle last Sunday in the Niners’ 41-33 loss at Dallas.

Mullens, 25, appeared in 10 games (eight starts) and completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,437 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was 2-6 as a starter.

Mostert, 28, made eight starts and rushed for 521 yards and two touchdowns. He added 16 receptions for 156 yards and one score.

The 49ers (5-9), who have been eliminated from the playoff picture, face the Arizona Cardinals (8-6) on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz.

–Field Level Media

Dec 20, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (4) hands off to running back Raheem Mostert (31) against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

49ers place QB Mullens, RB Mostert on season-ending IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers placed quarterback Nick Mullens and running back Raheem Mostert on injured reserve Friday, ending their seasons.

Mullens injured his right elbow and Mostert aggravated his sprained right ankle last Sunday in the Niners’ 41-33 loss at Dallas.

Mullens, 25, appeared in 10 games (eight starts) and completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,437 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was 2-6 as a starter.

Mostert, 28, made eight starts and rushed for 521 yards and two touchdowns. He added 16 receptions for 156 yards and one score.

The 49ers (5-9), who have been eliminated from the playoff picture, face the Arizona Cardinals (8-6) on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz.

–Field Level Media

Jun 11, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Wilton Speight (5) , Nick Mullens (4) and C.J. Beathard (3) watch Jimmy Garoppolo (10) throw the football during minicamp at the SAP Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Report: 49ers QB Mullens needs elbow surgery

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens likely needs surgery for a right elbow injury sustained near the end of Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, NBC Sports reported Tuesday.

Mullens has started the last six games with Jimmy Garoppolo on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 8.

The 49ers opened the 21-day IR practice window for Garoppolo on Tuesday, but C.J. Beathard is likely to be the starter Sunday when the 49ers (5-9) face the Arizona Cardinals (8-6) in Glendale, Ariz.

In other news from the San Francisco quarterback room Tuesday, the team placed quarterback Josh Johnson and wide receiver Kevin White on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Mullens, 25, has completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,437 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 games (eight starts) this season.

Garoppolo, 29, has completed 67.1 percent of his throws for 1,096 yards with seven scores and five picks in six starts.

Beathard, 27, hopped off the bench late in the fourth quarter Sunday and completed 5 of 7 passes for 100 yards, including a game-ending 49-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne.

Johnson, 34, has not appeared in an NFL game since 2018. The 49ers signed him to the practice squad on Nov. 11.

White, 28, has played nine snaps on offense and 22 snaps on special teams in three games this season. He has no catches and one kickoff return for 20 yards.

San Francisco has lost three straight and six of its last seven games. The defending NFC champions were officially eliminated from the playoff picture with the 41-33 loss to the Cowboys.

–Field Level Media

Dec 8, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (4) before their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Shanahan expects QB Mullens to start for 49ers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Nick Mullens likely will be the 49ers’ starter Sunday against the New York Giants.

Jimmy Garoppolo is dealing with a high right ankle sprain suffered in last weekend’s 31-13 victory over the New York Jets.

“I’ll be surprised if Jimmy gets back later in the week,” Shanahan said Wednesday, per the San Francisco Chronicle. “Nick is ready to go. He got a lot of playing time with us in 2018, and that prepared him for moments like this.”

Mullens, 25, completed 8 of 11 passes for 71 yards with one interception in relief against the Jets. In 2018, he was 3-5 as a starter and completed 64.2 percent of his throws for 2,277 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 picks.

Shanahan also said running back Tevin Coleman is headed to injured reserve with a knee sprain that is expected to keep him out of the lineup for at least four weeks.

Coleman, 27, has rushed 18 times for 30 yards and has three catches for 34 yards this season. The former Atlanta Falcon gained 724 yards from scrimmage and scored seven TDs in his first season with the 49ers in 2019.

Garoppolo, Coleman, running back Raheem Mostert (MCL sprain) and defensive end Dee Ford (back) did not practice Wednesday.

Nick Bosa, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, is out for the season with a torn ACL that he sustained Sunday.

Some good news for San Francisco was the limited participation of All-Pro tight end George Kittle in Wednesday’s practice. Kittle missed the win against the Jets with a sprained left knee.

–Field Level Media