Tarvaris Jackson
Minnesota’s quarterback situation is a complete mess. Brett Favre is likely a no-go as he’s still dealing with numbness in hand and his backup, Tarvaris Jackson, is now out for the season. That leaves a rookie sixth-round pick as the probable starter for Week 15.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Vikings have placed Jackson on injured reserve with turf toe and ligament damage in his right big toe. He sustained the injury in last Monday’s loss to the Giants and was immediately ruled out of practice for the week, so one could see this move coming.
To take his place on the active roster, quarterback Patrick Ramsey was signed and will handle the backup role this week.
Jackson, the team’s second-round draft selection back in 2006, has never impressed when given the opportunity and his accuracy and decision making have constantly been called into question.
He opened the 2007 season as the starting quarterback and finished the year with a meager nine passing touchdowns, compared to 12 interceptions. In 2008, Jackson again started the season as the number one before being benched in favor of Gus Frerotte. The next year the Vikings went out and signed Brett Favre and the rest is history.
Jackson is unsigned going into 2011; it’s all but a foregone conclusion that he’s played his last down in a Vikings uniform.
Meanwhile, though coach Leslie Frazier wouldn’t confirm it, rookie Joe Webb is expected to start at quarterback in Week 15′s Monday night matchup against the Bears. Frazier is holding out hope that Favre will be able to play on Monday, but even Favre himself is having his doubts about his availability. It’d be a shock if Favre suited up.
Webb, a converted wide receiver out of UAB, made his debut in relief of Jackson in Week 14. He threw for eight yards on two attempts and added a sixteen-yard run. An intriguing prospect due to his athleticism, Webb’s ceiling is infinitely higher than Jackson’s was but he’s still way too raw and needs much more polish on his game.
If Webb does get the nod, expect Chicago to load up the box to stop Adrian Peterson and the running game as they will take their chances with the passing game. Though he’s got some weapons to work with on offense, the odds are against Webb having a solid statistical night. Unless the defense plays lights out – or Peterson has a monster game (which is always possible) – Minnesota’s staring 5-9 in the face.
